Camp Hot Shots

We are so glad you are interested in camp.  Camp Hot Shots is a great opportunity for children ages six to eleven (6-11) with diabetes to make new friends, learn to better manage their diabetes and have a great time doing it.  They will also come to understand that diabetes doesn't have to limit their dreams and aspirations.

Camp Hot Shots is for kids ages 6-11 only. For in-person camp, the cost is $200 per camper (a $50 per camper discount is offered if two siblings are attending). The camp is a day camp and typically runs for three consecutive days in June each year.  The hours of camp are from 9 am - 4 pm daily. Transportation is available by bus.

There are also Camper Scholarships available.

Camp Hot Shots takes place at Platte River State Park in Louisvillle, NE (20 miles from Omaha and 30 miles from Lincoln).  It is just south of Interstate 1-80 along the beautiful Platte River basin.  Camp Hot Shots diabetes day camp is based out of the spacious Mallet Lodge.  The lodge has a fully equipped kitchen, lunch room and plenty of space for our numerous activities.  The children take part in archery, crafts and more.  Camp Hot Shots provides a safe, educational and fun environment for the kids.

What you can expect from Camp:

There is a parent/camper information night the evening before camp where parents and campers can meet the staff and get acquainted with the facility. They also have an opportunity to meet with representatives from the diabetes industry to stay current on existing and new products and information.

The activities at camp include (but aren’t limited to):

• educational sessions on nutrition and diabetes medical care

• horseback riding

• archery

• crafts

• hiking

• water games

• special guest presentations

The campers learn the proper way to manage their diabetes by learning when to check blood sugars, how often to check blood sugars, how to correctly handle a low or high blood sugar and what to do when an insulin pump site comes out or becomes blocked (to list a few). The power of observation and participation is priceless.

One of the most important things that camp provides the camper is a fun and safe place to go where other children are dealing with the same disease. Most of these children are the only ones in their school who have diabetes. No one at school can understand the daily challenges and the responsibility these kids have. There is never a day off with diabetes. Friendships made at Camp Hot Shots last a lifetime.

How Camp Hot Shots began:

Camp Hot Shots was started in 1997 an informal play date at a park. A mother of a young child with diabetes wanted her daughter to meet and interact with other children her own age facing the same challenges. She identified and contacted families with children who had diabetes to see if they would be interested in meeting at a playground for a couple of days. She had an overwhelming response. These gatherings were held at the park for several years and continued to grow in numbers and then became a more formalized camp. The camp was loosely organized, but had a Certified Diabetes Educator who volunteered to assist with any medical issues. Through a contest, the campers submitted names, put it to vote, and Camp Hot Shots was the chosen name.

Several years later, a mother and father attended camp with their daughter and recognized the need for structure, education and organization. The vision was to provide a safe environment for the children to meet others like themselves, learn from each other and receive cutting edge medical education to assist them in living a healthy, long, and prosperous life. On site medical care and education was to be delivered by health care professionals. For over 25 years, Camp Hot Shots has resided at Platte River State Park in Louisville, NE. The camp has a volunteer staff made up of a camp director, physicians, certified diabetes educators, nurses, dieticians, counselors and volunteers. Nearly 1,000 children have attended Camp Hot Shots in the last 25 years. Each year the number of children with T1D continues to grow. The camp is run utilizing a committed volunteer staff of 40 with an annual budget around $35,000 dollars. Camp Hot Shots provides a safe environment, educational activities, snacks, meals and the ability for children to meet others with diabetes and make friends for life.