Little Shots Day Camp – Michigan

ProMedica Farms in Tecumseh, MI 2024 | 2025 Camp Dates: TBD Thanks for a great summer!

Designed for campers age 5-10

"I felt confident in the care my child was receiving at camp, so it was nice to have a little break from constantly checking her number, dosing for food, reacting to highs/lows, etc. I knew she was having fun and being taken care of which was very reassuring."
Camper Parent
Little Shots 2022

What is Little Shots Michigan?

Little Shots Day Camp is a 4-day experience designed for children living with Type 1 diabetes ages 5-10. At Little Shots, campers are immersed in opportunities to not only make connections with other kids living with T1D, but also learn about independent diabetes management through fun hands-on activities. Your camper will walk away with fun memories, new friends, and a better understanding of Type 1 diabetes. For kids, this is often the first place they meet another child with diabetes. At Little Shots, they do not feel different because they are just like everyone else. Parents have peace of mind that their child is safe and cared for with qualified healthcare professionals surrounding them.

About Our Staff

Our staff is comprised of medical professionals in the endocrinology field. Nurses, pharmacists, Certified Diabetes Educators (CDEs), registered dieticians and nurse practitioners all come together to make camp a success. We have people living with Type 1 diabetes on our medical staff, and nearly all our young adult counselors live with T1D themselves and role model proper diabetes management at camp. Several members of our staff were campers themselves, and over time create strong connections that last past camp!

Programming at Little Shots Michigan

Little Shots Michigan is unique because of its location at ProMedica Farms in Tecumseh, MI. Commonly referred to as ‘The Farm,’ it is a working farm full of learning where your food comes from, how vegetables benefit your health and tons of opportunities to taste new veggies. Campers work together to harvest and package fresh produce, complete with harvesting their own pizza toppings for a fresh lunch!

 

Each day at Little Shots is packed with tons of fun activities for your T1D to enjoy. Each year brings a new theme with related activities that are age appropriate such as crafts, games, ice skating, and inflatables. Our staff will work with you and your child to encourage new experiences in a safe setting. We also work to bring in special guests from the local and national stage to speak to campers on their experience living with T1D.

 

We work closely with our medical staff throughout the year to design our Diabetes Education classes based on what kids need most. Campers learn carb counting, the importance of injection rotations, recognizing high and low blood sugars, self-advocacy with T1D and so much more! Our team of counselors living with T1D as well as medical staff work to help campers understand and navigate the ups and down of diabetes. Ordinary moments become diabetes teaching moments – we don’t need a classroom!

A typical day at Little Shots Michigan camp looks like this:

  • 8:30AM – Check In
  • 9:00AM – Activity Rotation #1: Explore the Hoop House, Diabetes Education, Craft
  • 9:45AM– Activity Rotation #2: Craft, Diabetes Education, Explore the Hoop House
  • 10:30AM – Cooking class
  • 11:00 AM – Lunch/Dosing
  • 12:00PM – Playground/ Swimming
  • 1:30 PM – Special Visitor!
  • 2:00PM – Free time/Snack​
  • 2:30PM – Check Out​

Little Shots Michigan Accessibility

Diabetes Youth Services works hard to ensure every child living with diabetes has the opportunity to come to camp. We have worked with the Carlton Lodge in Adrian, MI to provide housing accommodations at a discounted rate ($85/night) to families traveling from out of town. Interested? Call 517. 263.7000 and tell them you are reserving a room for the camp session at ProMedica Farms.

There is also a nearby campground in Tecumseh, MI- Indian Creek Campground is close to our day camp and offers very low rates for many types of lodging.

Little Shots Day Camp Fee: $225 | Registration Fee: $10

In our nearly 40 years of operation, we have never turned away a child for financial reasons. Please visit our Camp Financial Support Page to learn more about scholarships, payment plans, and other opportunities for financial assistance.

In 2024:
Campers improved their attitude towards their diabetes 85%
Campers were able to identify new tools related to diabetes management 76%
Campers talked about meaningful camp experiences 100%
Campers showed improvement in their diabetes care and attitude towards diabetes 85%
Parents would recommend DYS camp to other families 100%
Parents felt that camp fulfilled their expectations 99%

Pictures from Little Shots MI 2024: Olympics