Bearskin Meadow Camp (BMC) is one of the oldest and finest summer camps for children with diabetes. The heart behind BMC comes from Dr. Mary Olney and Dr. Ellen Simpson who founded and directed the camp for nearly half a century. Without their extraordinary efforts Bearskin Meadow Camp would have remained just a dream for children with diabetes. Their vision and dedication will forever be a part of camp's meaning and tradition.

      Dr. Mary Olney was a young Pediatrician at the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF). She worked at UCSF with children who had diabetes and saw a need to treat these children as any other child. During the holidays, other children in the hospital had holiday parities while the children with diabetes remained in bed. So she planned a holiday party for them. The following year she realized these children, just like any other children, could benefit from outdoor activities. Against the advice of many colleagues she arranged to take the entire ward camping.

      In 1938 the first camp was held in Napa County at Los Posados Camp near Angwin. After being run out of Los Posados Camp, Forest Whitaker (who was a part of the UC system) allowed use of Camp Whitaker, which is located just a few miles from Bearskin Meadow, from 1939 to 1960. The Forest Service operated Camp Whitaker but regulations stated that no improvements could be made on the land. So it was time again to look for another campsite. Fortunately after searching and searching they discovered that Bearskin Meadow was available for use and it was just down the road! The land that BMC is on is currently leased from the Forest Service; all the buildings on the land were built for Bearskin Meadow Camp. These buildings were constructed within a 10-year period and few changes have been made since then.

      In 1951 the Diabetic Youth Foundation (DYF) non-profit organization was incorporated to financially support and operate Bearskin Meadow Camp. The DYF is currently headquartered in Concord, California. The DYF is supported by a number of organizations and individuals that donate financially, as well as in time and materials. Each session fee for camp is subsidized. In addition to this subsidization, almost 50% of campers receive further financial aid. Children are accepted to camp regardless of ability to pay camp fees.

      Bearskin Meadow offers an active, traditional camp program. Activities include hiking, backpacking, rock climbing, swimming, sports and much more. Physical activities are balanced by quieter times spent participating in arts and crafts, preparing and performing skits, and singing. Nature and hiking programs enhance our enjoyment, respect, and appreciation of the forest surrounding us. Formal diabetes education is an important part of our program; however, children learn more from living and sharing with one another and staff in what we call "teachable moments." Campers and staff with diabetes find that camp is a liberating and motivating experience in their diabetes management. Camp is a group-based community that focuses on developing friendships and sharing life experiences. Every second of the day at camp has the potential to be a highly social and cooperative learning experience.

      Keeping with Dr. Mary Olney and Dr. Ellen Simpson’s vision, Bearskin Meadow is not much different from most summer camps; it serves kids and their families from a variety of backgrounds. The functions and duties of staff are not unlike the functions and duties of staff at other camps. Our primary purpose is to facilitate campers' personal growth in an outdoor setting. We assume many different roles: legally we are "guardians" to our campers and are expected to make decisions that are as protective as a parent would make; sometimes we act as an older brother or sister that campers can confide in, ask important questions, or, together with friends, take a walk down to the creek with. As we try to help campers grow, learn, and develop we find ourselves growing, learning, and developing as well.