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Program Details

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Activities Offered
  • Archery
  • Boating
  • Camp
  • Canoeing
  • Climbing
  • Fitness
  • Hiking
  • Horseback Riding
  • Soccer
  • Various Recreational Activities
  • Various Sports
  • Volleyball
Staff Training and Certification
  • Staff Training: nurses, student nurses, paramedics, dietitians, student dietitians, and doctors
  • Staff Certification:American Camping Association

Participants Served
  • Age range of participants: 7 to 17

Transportation
  • Accessible by Public Transportation: Yes

  • Transportation Provided by the Program: No

Notes

About Camp Hamwi:

Summer camp is a special experience for every child. It's an outdoor adventure offering a unique group living experience where campers learn how to live cooperatively with others. Each individual is important at Camp Hamwi for his or her own particular qualities and contributions to the camp community. Camp provides opportunities for self discovery and creativity through exploring individual potential and abilities. Through a simple group living environment, campers discover an appreciation for each individual's differences, and the positive feeling of group accomplishments. Camp Hamwi strives to create an accepting community, building each camper's self-esteem and feeling of personal worth.

The beautiful rustic setting of Camp Hamwi enhances the camper's ability to enjoy and appreciate the environment around them. Camp life endeavors to teach campers to respect the natural environment and to understand the interdependence of the natural world.

For more than 30 years, Camp Hamwi has offered this exceptional opportunity for a summer camp experience for youth with diabetes. In addition to enjoying traditional camp challenges, campers at Hamwi participate in activities designed to improve their knowledge of their own diabetes. Learning sessions include topics covering exercise, nutrition, insulin administration and blood glucose monitoring. Meeting and sharing with other youth with diabetes provides a chance for youth to compare experiences and feelings about living with diabetes. Camp Hamwi encourages independence in diabetes management while providing medical staff to help with education and assistance where needed.

Staff/Leadership

Leadership is a key component for a successful camp experience. Camp staff are selected based on their dedication to working with youth, maturity, sound judgment, leadership ability, sense of humor and an appreciation of the outdoors. Hamwi staff include cabin counselors, program staff, nurses, student nurses, paramedics, dietitians, student dietitians, and doctors. Many of the staff have diabetes themselves with personal knowledge of living with diabetes. Both medical and non-medical staff participate in intense training to prepare them to be successful camp counselors and able to assist with good diabetes management.


Facility

The Central Ohio Diabetes Association utilizes Camp Mohaven in Danville, Ohio, enjoying full access to this beautiful 660 acre property. The main camp area includes a large dining hall/lodge, modern bathhouses, simple rustic cabins, and a health center. Program facilities allow for a variety of recreational opportunities with a large L-shaped pool, an arts and crafts building, a nature building, an archery range, two playing fields, a sand volleyball court, numerous hiking trails, and an expansive area for horseback riding.

Youth are housed in groups of 7-8 campers according to age. One to two staff members and a health care professional are assigned to each cabin. Both the girls and boys side of camp has a private bathhouse. Cabins are within easy walking distance of the lodge/dining hall and the health center.

From beginners to more practiced individuals, Camp Hamwi offers a diverse program for any skill level. The camp environment promotes a sense of team spirit and good sportsmanship in individual and group activities, and competitive and non-competitive challenges. Campers are encouraged to try new skills, and explore their unique individual potentials. Activity options include horseback riding, archery, volleyball, soccer, canoeing, swimming, arts and crafts, drama, dance, outdoor living skills, nature crafts, and outdoor adventure. Incorporated into the daily schedule are diabetes education sessions to increase campers' understanding of diabetes. Each week, the program is specially designed to address the interests of a particular age group.


Trailblazers (ages 7 - 10)

Activities and programs are geared to entertain and encourage our youngest resident campers. Hayrides, water games, a talent show, and a treasure hunt are a few of the outrageous activities that make this program full of wholesome fun and delight. Special programs highlighting the Trailblazer week include a spectacular carnival celebration where everyone comes dressed in their zaniest attire.


Explorers (ages 11 - 13)

A week of adventure created to inspire this energetic group of campers. Rafting along the Mohican River or spending a day swimming, boating and tubing at the lake, Explorers are busy with an exciting array of activities. Evenings find campers dressing up for the variety show or preparing for a day of Olympic competition.


Senior Challenge (ages 14 - 17)

A more advanced program structured to challenge our oldest campers. Seniors are exposed to rappelling, river canoeing, overnight camping, initiative games and much more. Senior campers are privileged to invite a friend to attend Hamwi with them.

Health and Safety

Camp Hamwi is an accredited camp by the nationally recognized American Camping Association, denoting our commitment to maintaining high professional standards for the safety and welfare of our campers. Camp Hamwi staff are trained in the special needs of youth with diabetes. Meals are planned to meet the variety of meal plans of all campers and staff, and the program schedule is planned with good diabetes management in mind. The camp health center is set up to handle medical emergencies, especially those more common with youth with diabetes. Two doctors and a team of medical professionals are present at camp at all times to assist with caring for each camper's health care needs.

Throughout the week, campers and medical staff work together to maintain the best possible diabetes control with proper balance of nutrition, insulin and exercise. All campers test their blood glucose level a minimum of four times a day. Health care professionals are available to supervise proper blood glucose monitoring and assist with insulin management. Dietitians are present to provide nutrition advice and assist in meal selections. Regular meal and snack times are established to promote good diabetes management.