The
Diabetic Youth Foundation was established over fifty years ago to support
the operation of Bearskin Meadow Camp, a residential camp in Sequoia/Kings
Canyon National Park. Over the past half century, the organization has
continued to grow and help more children, extending services to families
as well as children affected by diabetes.
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.
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| Dr. Mary Olney |
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.
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| Dr. Ellen Simpson and Dr. Mary Olney |
In 1938 the
first camp was held in Napa County at Los Posados Camp near Angwin. After
being run out of Los Posados Camp due to the local community being afraid
that their kids might “catch” diabetes from the campers, 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.
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| Dr. Ellen Simpson and Dr. Mary Simon |
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.
In
2001, the Diabetic Youth Foundation expanded its services by offering
weekend educational retreats, topic specific seminars, and recreational
activities for children and families. Our weekend educational retreats
are held at Camp Arroyo and offer the same philosophies and activities
as Bearskin Meadow Camp As the Diabetic Youth Foundation continues to
grow, we are constantly looking to enhance the lives of those affected
by diabetes since 1938.
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Diabetic
Youth Foundation 5167 Clayton Road, Suite F, Concord, CA 94521 Phone (925) 680-4994 Fax (925) 680-4863 Emails: info@dyf.org |