Kids For A Cure Club Holds Zoom Camp For Children With Diabetes

FREDERICKSBURG, VA — Sponsors of the Kids for a Cure Club didn't let the coronavirus crisis prevent them from holding the 14th annual day camp for children with type 1 diabetes. They replaced the in-person camp with virtual activities for the children and camp staff through Zoom.

Established in 2006 by Mary Washington Healthcare, the Kids for a Cure Club Day Camp is staffed with health professionals, counselors and junior counselors trained in diabetes care. The camp offers the children a chance to have fun with other children who share their daily challenges.

The Kids for a Cure Club provides support for families with children who have diabetes. Now more than ever, Mary Washington Healthcare felt the children needed the support and connection that a summer camp brings, having been isolated from school and friends due to the coronavirus. Camp is a time when the kids know that they are not alone in meeting the challenges of type 1 diabetes.

"By seeing each other via the Zoom connection they were still able to get that feeling of 'community,'" Cathy Peterjohn, MWHC Outpatient Diabetes and Nutrition Manager, told Patch.

Nineteen children participated in this year's virtual camp, which was held the week of June 15 and was free of charge. The camp is usually held at the Presbyterian Church of Fredericksburg in downtown. This year, the organizers held one-hour Zoom activity sessions each day that included cooking and painting classes as well as classes on exercise.

Children were provided a tote bag with all the supplies they needed for the week’s activities, including food, craft supplies, bingo cards and a stamper. Families picked them up at the clinic a few days before the first day.

A "Let’s Get Physical with Matt" session was held twice during the week-long camp. On the first day, Matt talked about how exercise impacts blood sugars, what to do pre- and post-exercise, how to be sure blood sugars don’t drop too low, and what to do if they do.

On the second day of "Let's Get Physical," Matt did activities with them outside and encouraged them to participate along with him as he guided them to check blood sugars pre- and post-exercise and take some source of carbohydrate to counter blood sugars dropping.

One camp participant, Ella from Stafford, said in an email to Patch that the best part of this year's camp was cooking healthy snacks. "I liked making the sailboat with apple, peanut butter, Rice Krispies, and cheese and a toothpick to hold up the sail,” she said.

Although not as fun as previous camps that she's attended in person, Ella, 9, said she still had a good time participating in the virtual camp.

“We got to share on show-and-tell day. Some kids shared things about diabetes, like me," she said. "I shared my signed soccer jersey that Jordan Morris gave me. He’s the only MLS player with type 1 diabetes, and I play soccer like him. Some kids shared their pets, and video games they like to play.”

Addie, a 13-year-old from Fredericksburg who has been attending the camp for several years, would have been a junior counselor at this year's summer camp.

Addie, like Ella, loved the snacks this year and said the crafts turned out amazing. "They were able to teach us how to make the crafts even over a computer," she said in an email to Patch.

Compared to previous camps, Addie said the camp participants didn't talk as much as they usually do about how they deal with diabetes. Instead, they focused on special activities.

"I became a junior counselor because I love the camp," Addie said. But since this year's camp was conducted virtually, "I wasn't able to truly be a junior counselor," she said. "I didn’t give the campers any advice, because I wasn't there in person to do it, and I think the best advice is given face to face."

For this year's camp, the staff was composed of four certified diabetes education care specialists: a registered nurse with a pediatric background, two registered dietitians and one exercise physiologist. Three of four are employees of Mary Washington Healthcare and the other works for Medtronic, an insulin pump company.

For next year's camp, Mary Washington Healthcare, a nonprofit health care system that operates two hospitals and dozens of health care facilities, and camp veterans like Addie, are hoping it will be conducted in person.

The Kids for Cure Club plans to adopt an Olympics theme for next year's camp. Organizers had planned a "Go for the GOLD" slogan for this year's camp. But when the coronavirus pandemic forced the cancellation of the 2020 Olympics games, the camp organizers decided "Team KFCC" would Go for the GOLD in 2021.

The Kids for a Cure Club receives donations from Spotsylvania, Stafford, Chancellors and Fredericksburg Lion’s Clubs. The donations will be used to support next year's Olympics-themed camp as well as any other events planned for the club.