Camp Setebaid

Camp Setebaid is an overnight camp for children and teens ages 8-17 with type 1 diabetes. It is located west of Wilkes-Barre and north of Berwick in the mountains of northeastern Pennsylvania on the grounds of Camp Louise. It has been serving children with diabetes since 1978. The name Setebaid ("diabetes" spelled backward) was chosen by campers in the early 1980s. Camp Setebaid was operated by the American Diabetes Association for two decades; since 2000 it has been operated by Setebaid Services. Camp Setebaid is accredited by the American Camp Association.

Camp Setebaid is a somewhat rustic, traditional camp surrounded by mountains and state game lands. Campers at Setebaid sleep in platform-style tents with 4 beds in each tent. The camp includes a large swimming pool, playing field, a lake, hiking trails, and mountains.

Overview

History

Camp Setebaid was organized in 1978. It has been held each year at the beginning of August at Camp Louise, a Girl Scout camp for the rest of the summer. For the first two decades, Camp Setebaid was supported by the American Diabetes Association. When the ADA established a new camp in the Philadelphia area in 2000, Camp Setebaid became independent, and since then has been supported and operated by Setebaid Services, a non-profit organization that conducts camps, family weekends, and other educational and recreational programs for people with diabetes and their families.

Until the mid-1990's Camp Setebaid typically served 20-40 campers aged 8 to 12 years old. In the early 1990's the programs were expanded to the camp's capacity and a second week was added to accommodate programs for teenagers. In recent years, the camp has offered a youth week for children 8-12 years and a teen week for 13-17 year olds.

Activities

Camp Setebaid has provided friendship and a fun place for children and adolescents with diabetes since August 1978. Since then, memories and traditions have lived on, such as campfire songs, hikes, boating, and archery. Activities at camp consist of, but are not limited to: arts and crafts, boating and canoeing, field games, fishing, hiking, singing, swimming, and nature lore. For the teen session of camp, campers choose different camp electives that they focus on. Electives include photography, water sports, nature learning, cooking, and CSI (crime scene investigation). One activity that you would expect at a camp that is especially done at Camp Setebaid is talking. Campers talk about their diabetes, when they were diagnosed, and how they deal with everyday challenges while having the barrier of diabetes.

Diabetes Care

Physicians, nurses, dietitians, and insulin pump trainers live on-site 24 hours a day with the campers and even participate in the camp activities. Campers are educated each day about taking critical note of their blood sugars and keeping their health in mind. Certified diabetes educators, physicians, nurses, and dietitians use a team approach while working with the campers to develop diabetes management techniques.