Barton Center for Diabetes Education/Clara Barton Camp

CONTACT:

30 Ennis Rd., PO 356
North Oxford, MA 01537-0356
508-987-2056 extension 101
www.bartoncenter.org

John W. Maconga, President

DESCRIPTION:

For 70 years, the Clara Barton Diabetes Center has been a haven for youth learning to live with diabetes. Each year, more than 600 girls and boys, ages 6 to 16-many of whom are not accepted at traditional camps because of their special needs-attend CBDC's summer camp, family weekend, and adventure programs. There they enjoy innovative camp activities, learn about diabetes, and most importantly, meet others who share this challenging condition.

Having diabetes doesn't mean simply giving up sugar and taking a shot each day. Its demands are ceaseless. Extraordinary self-discipline and self-management, arduous routines of injections, blood glucose monitoring, exercise and meal planning are needed to help prevent or retard future complications leading to blindness, nerve damage, heart disease, and kidney failure.

Our current health care system stops short of meeting the educational and support needs of diabetic children and their families. Through its camp programs and weekend family retreats, CBDC helps those living with diabetes to gain the self-confidence and motivation needed to manage their condition actively.

Half of the Center's children need to be subsidized through a scholarship program. Demand for summer camp, family programs and school-year youth programs continues to grow, as do waiting lists. Adventure camp demand has tripled in the last three years, while family weekend programs are filled to capacity months in advance. The Center needs funds to make capital improvements to existing facilities, and to expand its programs so more children can be helped.

(1997: HUMAN SERVICES: Children and Youth: General)