Marshmallows and Hope: Bearskin Meadows

In 1965, when I was just 12 years old, my parents dropped me off at Bearskin Meadows, a two-week camp for kids with Type 1 diabetes. It was shortly after I had been diagnosed, and I was still adjusting to my new reality. I remember the daily routines vividly—carrying my cup of urine to the “lab,” lining up for my Regular and NPH injections twice a day, and using meal cards that followed the exchange system for servings.

But even with all that, there were moments of pure joy. I recall playing, singing around the campfire, and yes—roasting marshmallows for s’mores! (A sugary snack at a diabetes camp? Go figure!)

By the time I returned home, I felt much more comfortable with my condition and, more importantly, I felt hopeful. That experience gave me a sense of community and confidence that would shape my relationship with diabetes for years to come.

Fast forward 35 years. Now a Registered Nurse and Certified Diabetes Educator (RN, CDE), I found myself at a “Back to School” conference for parents of children with Type 1 diabetes, hosted by Diabetes Youth Families (DYF). During the event, camp counselors were leading the kids’ activities, and I recognized familiar images from the very same camp I had attended as a child. They invited me to return as a volunteer RN, offering insulin dose adjustments for a group of campers and helping with daily education alongside endocrinologists and other diabetes professionals. (And yes, there were CEUs too!)