Diabetes camp is a camp specifically for children with type 1 diabetes. If you have a child with T1D, check out the diabetes camp registration form for a camp near you! You will not regret it. They learn so much. They feel so normal. Strong, amazing friendships with kids just like them are formed. It’s so nice to see something so good come from having diabetes… for once!
Diabetes Camps Canada Website
There are 12 diabetes camps in Canada. Visit dcamps.ca to find the camp closest to you!
The summer camps are fantastic and your child can go once they are 7. If your child is younger, or if they are not ready for a week away from home, there are also family and day camp options.
Simply click on the camp you would like for more specific information on what they offer and the dates camp is available.
Diabetes Camp Registration Form
When you pick a camp and session, you will be asked for your email. The site will check to see if you have an Active.com account (to register your child/family). If you don’t have an account, follow the prompts to create one. If you do, you will get a couple of prompts asking who is being registered and then you will be brought to the registration form.
Here, you’ll have to fill out basic information such as address, phone number, and emergency contacts. They also ask a couple of questions about how your child is dealing with their T1D (emotionally) and if they are looking forward to camp or if they’re hesitant to go.
Financial Assistance
Diabetes camps are very pricey. If you cannot afford the cost, the next section of the registration process is important.
There are two options if you cannot afford the entire cost of camp:
- You can apply for financial assistance. This is a subsidy called ‘Campership’. To apply, simply check the box that says ‘yes’ next to the question “Are you applying for financial assistance?” Then you will choose Tier 3 at the checkout.
- You can participate in the My Campfire Fund. This is a new fundraising initiative. It is different from the subsidy. I have personally not done this option, but I have a list of FAQ’s about it later in the post. For the My Campfire Fund option, you will choose Tier 2 at the checkout.
Image of my son via D-camps Facebook page
Personal Information and Consent
Continuing the registration form you will find household questions, a Media Consent and Release Agreement (this is about the camp sharing pictures etc of your child on their website). Read it thoroughly and choose what you’re comfortable with.
Then the emergency contact information (you need 2 emergency contacts, with full address and 2 phone numbers), medical information about your child, parent/guardian information, and finally the agreements and signature.
The Checkout
Once the registration form is complete, you are brought to the checkout. Here, you will choose the appropriate payment tier, pick a payment plan, and provide your payment information.
You may be wondering, “what’s the difference between the 3 tiers?”
There is no difference. The camp experience is EXACTLY THE SAME.
The prices of D-camp are already offset by the Canadian Diabetes Association. The Tier 1 price is actually approximately half of the actual cost of camp. D-camps is trusting that each family will “choose the tier that represents what your family can afford”, so please choose appropriately.
If you are applying for financial assistance, choose tier 3.
If you are applying for My Campfire Fund, choose tier 2.
No matter what you choose, you do not have to pay the entire amount up front. There is a $25 registration fee that is due at checkout. For the rest of the cost, there are a couple of options.
You can split the payment into 3 payments or you can pay it all at once. If you picked the financial assistance, choose the 3 payment plan to give D-camps time to process your request. Once the request has been approved, your payments will be adjusted to reflect the new amount owed.
Supplemental Forms
Once you have successfully registered, there will be additional forms in your account. You will need to complete the forms in order to have your child attend camp. These forms include but may not be limited to: Medical Information Form and Diabetes Information Form.
The camp we go to also has a Transportation Form because there are multiple ways to get to camp, including the campers being picked up by staff at either the airport or the ferry terminal.
If you applied for financial assistance, those forms will be emailed to you. If you don’t get them within 2 weeks, contact D-camps at 1-800-BANTING.
Image of my son via D-camps Facebook page
My Campfire Fund
My Campfire Fund is a program for people who want to fundraise for their camp. I do not have personal experience with this program so I don’t know a lot about it, but I will share some common questions and the d-camps Canada answers that I received in an email from them:
How do I sign up for My Campfire Fund?
When you register for summer camp through www.dcamps.ca, instead of being presented with 3 tiers for payment options, you will now choose My Campfire Fund. By selecting My Campfire Fund you will receive an email directing you to our online fundraising platform so you can set up your page and begin raising funds. All set-up instructions will be available through this portal.
If I will require a subsidy to pay for camp, do I click on My Campfire Fund?
No, My Campfire Fund is an initiative that helps you fundraise your camp fees. If you will require a subsidy for camp and do not want to fundraise, you select the Tier 3 fee and check off that you will be applying for a subsidy. An application will be sent to you to gather the required information.
How much do I have to raise?
The minimum fundraising amount is automatically set to represent the Tier 2 fee for the camp your child is attending. You will see this balance on your account once you have registered and it will be reflected on your online platform. From Tier 1 to Tier 3, all camp fees are subsidized to varying degrees and do not reflect the true cost of camp. By setting the minimum fundraising amount at the Tier 2 fee, we will help increase revenues and create more sustainable programs.
What happens with the money I raise?
Once the fundraising deadline has passed (June 1st), all funds raised will be deducted from your camp balance. If you are unable to raise the minimum amount by the fundraising deadline, that balance will be owed to the CDA like a regular camp fee payment. This is the same model our Team Diabetes participants follow.
What if I want to fundraise for my camp in general but still pay my child’s camp fee?
You can still use My Campfire Fund to do this. Simply visit www.mycampfirefund.ca, select the camp you want to fundraise for and set up your page. You will have the option to select General Fundraising and all of those funds will help support that camp program as a whole. Remember though, if you want the funds to be deducted for your payment balance, your first step is to select My Campfire Fund on our camp registration page.
How can I fundraise?
Any way that works for you! From sharing your child’s story and connecting your social networks with your online page to having a bake sale, you are welcome to fundraise however you’d like. Anyone who donates more than $20 to your page online will be automatically issued a tax receipt and our user manual will explain to you how to enter funds to your page that you collect through offline events (these personal entries are not eligible for a tax receipt).
Who do I contact for help?
If you have any questions about My Campfire Fund, please contact 1-800-BANTING or email mycampfirefund@diabetes.ca and our team will connect you to the person best able to help you.
TLDR
I know this is a long post with a lot of info so for you scrollers… here’s the Too Long Didn’t Read breakdown:
- Diabetes camp registration opens in January in Canada. Go to dcamps.ca to register.
- Too pricey? Check out the financial assistance or My Campfire Fund options.
- What the heck are the payment tiers about? The camp experience is EXACTLY the same no matter which tier you pay. In an effort to help EVERY T1D child be able to attend camp, d-camps Canada is trusting that you will pick the tier your family is able to afford. So please do.
- D-camp is an amazing opportunity for T1D kids to learn about self-care, meet others their age with T1D, and most of all have an awesome camp experience (while parents can be assured that their child is being cared for by people fully trained in T1D).
- Need assistance? Call 1-800-BANTING or email camps@diabetes.ca with any questions or concerns.
Make sure you complete your diabetes camp registration soon! The camps fill up fast!!
Happy carb counting!
~ Leah
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