A Prescription for Community: Camp Hendon’s Impact on Youth with Diabetes
Camp Hendon is more than just a summer destination; it is a vital community dedicated to empowering youth with diabetes and their families. Through intentional focus on community, education, and fellowship, we provide a unique and supportive environment where managing diabetes is the norm, not the exception.
In 2025, our reach expanded to serve over 300 youth across multiple states, including Kentucky, Indiana, Florida, New York, Ohio, and Tennessee. This growth underscores the critical need for spaces where young people can connect and thrive while navigating the complexities of their chronic illness.
Measuring the Mission
Our commitment to empowerment is measurable, as evidenced by post-camp surveys tracking our impact:
- Community: 92% of campers reported a strong sense of belonging and made new friends. This aligns with the documented role of camping, where children become active community members and see the connectedness of their actions (Dustin, 1989).
- Education: 71% of campers reported increased interest in diabetes self-management. Providing practical, peer-supported education in a relaxed setting helps demystify daily care.
- Fellowship: 77% of campers reported decreased stress related to their diabetes. This is a crucial metric, as diabetes is considered one of the most psychologically and behaviorally demanding chronic illnesses facing adolescents (Cox & Gonder-Frederick, 1992).
Year-Round Support
While our flagship offering is our summer camp—we hold two separate weeks specifically for Kentucky youth—Camp Hendon is committed to supporting the diabetes community year-round. Recognizing the intense psychological demands of this condition, we offer a continuous calendar of events to keep our campers and families connected. This includes:
- Four weekend retreats
- Two-day camps
- A handful of other programs designed to foster lasting relationships and continuous support.
A Place to Be Normal
The impact of this supportive environment is perhaps best illustrated by a young lady who attended her first Camp Hendon event last spring. Like many new attendees, she was nervous. When her blood sugar went high, she was instantly worried about being a burden—a feeling common when around non-diabetic peers. But at Camp Hendon, it was simply normal. She felt seen and accepted. She wasn’t even the only one managing a blood sugar fluctuation that day. By the time her mother picked her up, she was thrilled to have made new friends who truly understood her life. Her first question to her mom was, “When is the next Camp Hendon event?”
For these youth, Camp Hendon is more than a service; it’s a lifeline where they feel understood, supported, and empowered to take control of their health. We thank the Lexington Medical Society for helping us spread the word about this vital work.