“Camp Hot Shots allowed me to develop independence and confidence in managing my Type 1 Diabetes.” - Sarah
Being diagnosed with a chronic illness, specifically Type 1 Diabetes, is one of the most life-altering moments an individual could ever experience. It’s being told that you now will have to manage a disease that will require you to take insulin injections, finger pokes, and constant symptom monitoring for the rest of your life. Furthermore, if you should choose not to adhere to this, your risk of cardiovascular disease, nerve damage, kidney damage, eye damage, limb damage, hearing impairment, Alzheimer’s disease, and depression increase exponentially as compared to the rest of the population. Imagine being told all those things when you’re only a child.
That moment happened to me before I could even talk, I was nine months old when I was diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes. My entire childhood consisted of hearing the risks regarding being one of the unfortunate children whose pancreas stopped working. Those risks aside, my childhood was different than the majority of my peers. I spent several hours per week in the nurse’s office, because I wasn’t permitted to treat my blood sugars in class. I would sit out from activities because my blood sugar was going low. This alone reinforced the idea that I was different from my friends.
All this being said, diabetes could have very easily become a prominent part of my identity-and for many diabetics, it is. Camp Hot Shots has been an imperative reason, however, as to why I can live my life to the fullest without letting my disease be an all-consuming factor.
In 1996, when I was diagnosed, Chris and Cory Harter decided to take on a momentous project- creating a full-blown children’s day camp for children with Type 1 Diabetes. The focus of this camp, called Camp Hot Shots, was twofold: 1) To educate youth to reduce the risk of diabetes complications and 2) To produce an environment that allows these children to have a normal summer camp experience.
I spent years attending this camp and loving every minute of it. It allowed me to develop independence and confidence in managing my disease. Then, when I graduated from being a camper, I was given the opportunity to become a counselor. Now, I have the privilege of volunteering for camp on the board of directors. Up until that point in time, I was ignorantly unaware of what it took to run this camp.
Camp Hot Shots takes place every June. Though it’s only three days long, it takes a small village to get it up and running. Chris and Cory Harter are the spearhead of this massive undertaking, every year without fail. To give you a glimpse of what this looks like, imagine the following: Needing a full team of medical professionals to volunteer their time, screening through dozens of counselor applications to find individuals who will prove to be good role models for campers, fundraising, networking with community partners, contacting medical supply companies for the equipment the children will need at camp, reassuring dozens of parents that their newly diagnosed child will be safe at camp…the list goes on and on. The Harters do it with smiles on their faces, because they know that the impact of all of these tasks is for a greater purpose.
Because of Camp Hot Shots, literally hundreds if not thousands of diabetic children in the Midwest have been impacted. I’ve seen the results of Camp firsthand in my own life and the lives of the friends I made at camp when I was a child and counselor. Diabetes is not an easy disease to live with, but it’s manageable with the right tools and education. The campers that have attended Camp have gone on to be lawyers, doctors, teachers, social workers, therapists, and more. Camp Hot Shots has enabled them and given them the confidence to do whatever they set their mind to, despite all odds. I am so incredibly blessed to have attended and volunteered at Camp Hot Shots and I am thankful for the irreplaceable gifts it has given me.
— Sarah Longhini, Counselor and Former Camper
“After the first day, I asked my mom if we could come back every year…I look forward to getting to see my friends every summer.” -Elijah
The first time I went to camp I was only 6 years old. I was nervous at first, but it was so fun to meet other kids like me. I had never seen anyone else with an insulin pump before! After the first day, I asked my mom if we could come back every year. I really like the activities. One of my favorites was horse back riding. I also love the surprises. For example, one year we went to do an art project. When we got back to the cabin, there was a dance party. I think Camp Hot Shots is cool. I look forward to getting to see my friends every summer.
— Elijah (written in 2021, age 9)
“All the activities at camp were engaging and fun…Camp Hot Shots makes you feel like you’re not alone.” - Jackson
Camp Hot Shots is an amazing place for everyone. I was introduced to camp my senior year of high school by a diabetic friend of mine. I signed up, but I was a little nervous of what was to come, since I had never attended as a camper. Let me tell you, that feeling of nervousness was unjustified because I was immediately treated like family. All the counselors, staff, and nurses were welcoming. From that moment, I knew that this was going to be a great place for the campers.
When I arrived, I was excited to help educate young diabetics, their friends, and their family that joined us. Initially I was expecting it to be a challenge to teach the kids good diabetes management (after all, who wants to be lectured?). However, all the activities at camp were engaging and fun. It didn’t feel like a classroom. During camp, I wasn’t expecting to learn about myself and my own diabetes management. While my mother is also diabetic, we don’t talk about it a lot at home. I had never really experienced being around other diabetic children and adults. At camp everyone held each other accountable, even the campers ask me about how I was doing with my blood sugars! I learned a lot about helping others help themselves, tell-tale signs of lows and highs that were different from my own, and how important this camp is to young diabetics. Camp Hot Shots makes you feel like you’re not alone. There are people that can and will help you. I remember when I was diagnosed at the age of 12. It was scary and I felt alone despite my mother being a diabetic. I wish I had known about camp back as a kid, but I am extremely grateful for the impact it has now and hope that everyone can experience camp hot shots like I did.
-Jackson Panzer, Counselor
“These children get to have the same types of camp experiences that other children have, while also learning how to test their own blood sugars, give their first insulin shots, and make life-long friends who also have Type 1.” - Emily
Every summer, I look forward to working with an amazing group of volunteers to provide the most empowering camp experience for children with Type 1 diabetes. Years ago, my sister attended this camp, and I noted the positive influences Camp Hot Shots had in encouraging her to take the reins on her diabetes. Many campers who age out of camp come back to serve as counselors; my sister is now one of those counselors.
I love Camp Hot Shots because we focus on providing a normal camp experience for children with Type 1 diabetes. These children get to have the same types of camp experiences that other children have, while also learning how to test their own blood sugars, give their first insulin shots, and make life-long friends who also have Type 1. Chris and Cory Harter have put together a dedicated team of volunteers who serve as counselors, certified nurses, dieticians, and individuals that go the extra step to make each year better than the last. Every year, some of the counselors share their stories of having diabetes and how they continue to grow and accomplish. Many counselors share that despite having T1D, it has not affected their involvement in sports. I am incredibly grateful that I get to serve on the same team that made a difference for my sister. My goal in volunteering each year is to make a difference in the lives of our young people through diabetic education mixed with fun filled activities at camp.
- Emily Kort, Camp Counselor