SDES Journal

A
new day at camp has begun in new surroundings. Many miles north of Jackson’s Gap in Charlton, Massachusetts Camp Seale Harris staff members have gone abroad. For the next eight weeks Sara, William and Abbey will be working at Camp Joslin, an all-boys diabetes camp that is run through the Joslin Diabetes Center. The group will be joining John Latimer, a former Camp Seale Harris Camp Director who is the current Director of Camp Joslin. This is the second summer for these returning staff members who couldn’t stay away after just one summer.

…Camp Seale Harris has instilled in William, Abbey and Sara a passion for caring for children with diabetes…

The three weeks at Camp Seale Harris are just a warm up for a summer of camping fun. While the two Camps are many miles apart, the goals and values of each Camp are very similar. Both Camps thrive on the philosophy of helping children live healthy and successful lives with diabetes. Whether in Jackson’s Gap, Alabama or Charlton, Massachusetts, Campers attend Camp to gain knowledge and friendships among peers with diabetes.

Camp allows children to affirm their independence and to further develop the management of their diabetes. Camp Seale Harris has instilled in William, Abbey and Sara a passion for caring for children with diabetes, which is why they will continue to call Camp Seale Harris their summer home.

J

unior week at Camp Seale Harris is now in full swing. Campers from the ages of 6 to 12 are enjoying the outdoors and fun activities at camp while learning about their diabetes.

…Campers are quickly learning how to count carbohydrates and take their insulin…

Junior week is a much more structured week with groups rotating between activities. The Campers get to participate in nearly every activity that is offered ranging from the pool to the zipline. Campers are participating in diabetes education sessions that address topics that are important to young newly diagnosed children as well as those who have lived with diabetes for many years.

Campers are quickly learning how to count carbohydrates and take their insulin. Many Junior Campers come to Camp dependent on the care of their parents and return home under better control and able to independently manage their diabetes.

Many Seale Harris campers feel singled out in their hometowns and families because of their diabetes. Twelve year-old Courtney Boutwell knows this feeling; she is from a small Alabama town where few other people with diabetes live. However, Courtney does have one companion with diabetes–her mother!

…Courtney’s mom, Amy Taylor, was diagnosed with diabetes twenty-six years ago…

Courtney’s mom, Amy Taylor, was diagnosed with diabetes twenty-six years ago. She remembers her one summer at camp as “the best summer of her life” and wanted Courtney to have the same opportunity. Luckily, Courtney will get to come to camp more than just once. This is her second session, and there are no signs that she won’t be returning next year!

Courtney’s experiences at camp have been exactly what her mother hoped them to be. She gets to hang out with other girls who understand her illness, and she also gets to participate in activities with out letting her diabetes restrain her! Her family says that she has been counting down to camp since she left last year, and fills them in on every exciting detail while at home.

Hear both Courtney’s and her family’s thoughts on Camp Seale Harris in the video below!

Did you know that Camp ASCCA is in Facebook? If you are too, please go on over and “Friend” Camp ASCCA and join the Camp ASCCA Facebook group, too.

 

 CSH Family Interview [2:18m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

T
oday is the final day of Senior camp 2007, and I must say that this week has been filled with memories that will last a lifetime.  The countless smiles, unending laughter and the neverending sounds of songs are echoing throughout camp.  From our daily activities and education to the evening programs, this week has truly provided each camper and staff member with memories and life lessons that will last forever.

…this week has truly provided each camper and staff member with memories and life lessons…

 Despite being our last day, there will be no slowing down.  On our schedule, we have an exquisite banquet, complete with everyone’s favorite chicken finger meal, followed with our awards program.  Following the awards, we will all have an opportunity to recap on the week and enjoy a slideshow, which always brings hugs and tears as it officially brings the week to a close.  Our night is ended with “barges,” or wishboats, which is a tradition at Camp Seale Harris.  As you place your barge in the water, you make a wish.  While the wishes are different from person to person, there is one wish that I make as my barge floats in the water.  I wish for everyone to hold tight to their memories and friendships made this week, and all return safely next year, as we are now all a camp family.  I have been so blessed to be involved with such great staff and campers, and wish the best for you all throughout the next year.

Jonathan Daughtry is another of Camp ASCCA’s returning staff members. He began working at camp in 2005, so this will be his third summer in a row!

…Jonathan’s sense of humor seems to really win over the campers…

Jonathan began at ASCCA as a counselor, and last year he joined the Program Staff. He runs the Adventure programs, which include high ropes courses, zipline, tree house, and the climbing tower. Today, he, Josh, and Barclay will be helping Seale Harris Campers conquer the Cargo Net at high ropes.

One of Jonathan’s favorite games is ultimate frisbee, so he’ll likely be helping out Corey Webb occasionally with Sports and Games. As you’ll see in his video, Jonathan prides himself on his ability to encourage campers to face their fears during Adventure programs and try something new. His sense of humor seems to really win them over, and he even received a note in the love note box at lunch this week!

Meet Jonathan yourself by clicking on the video below!

Did you know that Camp ASCCA is in Facebook? If you are too, please go on over and “Friend” Camp ASCCA and join the Camp ASCCA Facebook group, too.

 

 Jonathan Daughtry [2:27m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Amber Cotney’s energy and enthusiasm about Camp ASCCA, and about life in general, are absolutely contagious. She is one of the first people I met when I arrived at camp in mid-May, and in case I hadn’t found my own reasons to love camp right away, she was ready to share a million of hers!

…Amber Cotney’s energy and enthusiasm about Camp ASCCA are absolutely contagious…

Amber is from Clay County, AL and first read about Camp ASCCA in a newspaper article. The article was about the Muscular Distrophy Association’s annual session here, and it intrigued her enough to call the office for more information. Unfortunately, Amber was too young to work here, but the next year she joined the staff as a Counselor in Training.

That was eight years ago, and she has returned every summer since! Since her days as a CIT, Amber has risen through the ranks to be this year’s Head Counselor. Because she has had so much experience, Amber says she helps out at almost every activity.

I found her at Arts and Crafts today, and she was eager to tell me some of her favorite stories from past sessions. Watch her below to hear about her camper and friend, James, and about what Camp ASCCA means in her life!

Did you know that Camp ASCCA is in Facebook? If you are too, please go on over and “Friend” Camp ASCCA and join the Camp ASCCA Facebook group, too.

 

 Amber Cotney [2:00m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Andrew Loftin will be spending his first summer at ASCCA this year. Andrew is a part of the Program Staff, and his main areas of focus are fishing, archery, and riflery. All of those three activities are especially great for campers with physical disabilities since they require mostly upper-body strength!

…fishing, archery, and riflery are especially great for campers with physical disabilities…

Andrew is a student at Auburn University and is majoring in Bio-Med Sciences. He heard about Camp ASCCA from his aunt in Birmingham and decided to apply. We’re so glad he’s here, and apparently so are the campers. Not only have archery and skeet-shooting been popular this week, but Andrew also received a note in the love note box last night at dinner!

Yesterday, Andrew helped out the Adventure Staff at the climbing tower and zipline. Click the video below to see him interacting with campers and hear what he thinks of camp so far!

Did you know that Camp ASCCA is in Facebook? If you are too, please go on over and “Friend” Camp ASCCA and join the Camp ASCCA Facebook group, too.

 

 Andrew Seale [1:50m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

E

ducation is a crucial part of the camp experience for the young people at Camp Seale Harris. Campers participate in a diabetes education session every day after breakfast. The programs are geared toward the knowledge level as well as the age of the campers. The diabetes education programs of each week cover basic topics such as diet and exercise along with understanding the causes and effects of complications associated with poor diabetes management.

…Counselors are often able to offer the Campers advice based upon their personal experiences…

The diabetes education for Senior Week develops skills for learning how to cope with diabetes through the high school and college years. First, Campers learned about the actual change in the flow of blood through their veins when blood sugars are high versus when they are under good control. Next, Campers learned how to manage their portion sizes. They also learned about the difference carbohydrate levels of foods at many fast food restaurants where campers often eat in high school and college. Diabetes education sessions will also be held in which campers can ask their counselors and doctors questions about growing up with diabetes. Counselors are often able to offer the Campers advice based upon their personal experiences.

Campers leave Camp Seale Harris with an improved understanding of diabetes and its effect on the many aspects of their lives. Campers return to camp the following years with their blood sugars under better control and with experiences to share with the new campers. Camp Seale Harris provides a fully immersive learning environment for children to learn how to blend their unique lives with a diabetes treatment style that works for them.

Every day of Camp Seale Harris’ Senior Week has a special theme. Monday was crazy with a colors theme, for which every cabin dressed in their color of choice, but Tuesday was 80’s day and will probably be remembered as everyone’s favorite!

…side ponytails, leggings, and sweat suits adorned the campers and counselors…

Side ponytails, leggings, and sweat suits adorned the campers and counselors. Even Matt Rickman, Camp ASCCA’s director broke out his old KISS t-shirt and aviators.

The real fun took place at lunchtime. The dining hall speakers blared Madonna, Prince, and some Michael Jackson. After we finished our spaghetti the cabins competed in an 80’s contest. One cabin lost points for dressing as KISS from the wrong decade. Way to show your age by correcting that one, Matt! Others performed Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” and Tommy Tutone’s “Jenny.”

The winner was the cabin that portrayed 80’s campers as they would be today. The “elderly” crew entered the dining hall to Justin Timberlake’s “Sexy Back.” Not quite from the 80’s, but apparently it worked for them!

Did you know that Camp ASCCA is in Facebook? If you are too, please go on over and “Friend” Camp ASCCA and join the Camp ASCCA Facebook group, too.

Camp Seale Harris is always trying to find new, innovative activities for their campers, but sometimes you just can’t beat the basics! Tuesday morning I caught up with some boys’ cabins at archery and girls’ cabins at arts and crafts.

…sometimes just can’t beat the basics…

For some of the guys, archery is an old favorite. They already knew what they were doing either from hunting or from other camp sessions. Some, however, had never shot a bow and arrow before. It was fun for the guys to see what good aim they had. Call it natural talent or beginner’s luck, these guys were pretty good!

Arts and crafts were less experimental for the girls. They braided and beaded jewelry, made scrapbooks, and some just drew pictures. Hopefully, these creations will be keepsakes to remind them of their week at Camp Seale Harris!

You can see how much fun they’re having at camp by clicking the video below!

Did you know that Camp ASCCA is in Facebook? If you are too, please go on over and “Friend” Camp ASCCA and join the Camp ASCCA Facebook group, too.

 

 Tuesday Morning [1:26m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download