In the next few weeks, our SDES blog will be featuring stories from a few different people! I have contacted many of you to contribute to our blog, sharing stories of your life with diabetes or how our programs have impacted you. Starting next week, I will being publishing these responses… so I hope you enjoy them!! I hope that you can really appreciate the stories that people have shared and can relate to their stories of life with diabetes. If you have a story to share, feel free to send me a post at sara@southeasterndiabetes.org!
Through all the struggles we face with our diabetes, we sometimes feel like we are the only ones going through it! Well…. you are NOT alone! Did you know that there are close to 3 million Americans with Type 1 diabetes? So we really are not alone, there are so many people living with diabetes. Here is a list of some famous type 1 and type 2 diabetics that you may know:
Halle Berry- actress
Jonathan Hayes- NFL player
Delta Burke- actress
Kendall Simmons- NFL player
Bill Gullickson-MLB player
Johnny Cash- Singer
Ella Fitzgerald- Singer
Randy Jackson- Singer/Producer/American Idol judge
Bret Michaels-Singer
Nick Jonas- Singer (The Jonas Brothers)
These are just a few celebrities that I came across who live with diabetes. While they may be famous, they have diabetes just like you and me! We all need a support system and I hope that Camp Seale Harris and the other SDES programs provide a network for you. Connect with your friends from camp and remember that YOU ARE NOT ALONE!!
Get excited!! CIT applications are now available on our website! If you will be 16 or 17 next year and are interested in possibly becoming a counselor in training, then send us an application. The Counselor in Training (CIT) program at Camp Seale Harris is designed for youth who are interested in becoming counselors for our resident camp program. You will learn the procedures and tricks of the trade to be a counselor and also make some of the best friends that you can imagine!
Many of us have our “favorite” counselors. The CIT program teaches you to take traits from many of our favorites and throw in your own personality to make an all-star mix! Being a CIT is truly an honor and a privilege. So download your application today and get it back to the office! Feel free to contact Sara (sara@southeasterndiabetes.org) with any questions!! We look forward to hearing from you soon!
Nine years ago today, Camp Seale Harris lost one of its brightest stars, Kimberly Pendergrass. Kimberly attended camp for many years and was very active in the counselor-in-training program. She even won the John Eddin’s “Best CIT” award in 1999.
When I think back on the many memories of Kimberly, so much comes to mind. First and foremost, her smile was truly contagious and could light up a room. I know that she touched so many lives simply by sharing a smile. Kimberly never met a stranger and always jumped at the opportunity to make a new friend. She truly embraced the spirit and passion to help others with diabetes. We love and miss you Kimberly!!
As many of us are starting back to school (or have already started back), I wanted to inform you of many community programs that are taking place! Programs in Huntsville, Birmingham, Montgomery and Mobile are all starting up, so make sure that you check the website often to get all the details!
Another thing I wanted to inform you about is Facebook! Did you know that Camp Seale Harris is on facebook? Facebook has already allowed us to reconnect with some CSH alumni as well as seek out some potential campers and families. I really hope that you will “friend” us and use Facebook as a tool to stay in touch with the place we all call home!
I hope that everyone had a wonderful summer! I know that I really enjoyed seeing old faces and meeting some new ones! If you didn’t make it to one of our SDES programs this summer, make sure you stay tuned for what we are offering this fall! Feel free to contact the office about any upcoming programs and I hope to hear/see from you soon!
June has flown by and we are done with Camp Seale Harris for 2008. Over the course of three weeks, we served around 250 children and their families, who are affected by diabetes. In addition to 250 campers, we had about 100 volunteers that ranged from counselors to doctors to ensure that every camper was safe and healthy! Overall, I can say that it was an amazing summer and I treasure all of the memories that camp has provided me!
As I reflect on my three weeks at Seale Harris, I encourage you to cherish your camp memories and hold your friendships close! We are in the process of posting all of our pictures on the website, so stay tuned and you can relive your week at camp! Also, if you are interested in applying to be a Counselor-In-Training (CIT), we will have the application and deadline posted shortly. Please let us know if there is anything that you would like to see on your website!! We would love to serve you better!
Even though our three weeks of camp is over, we now have the next 45 or so weeks to prepare for next summer. I hope to see many of you at one of our day camp or community programs. Know that YOU played such a part in making Camp Seale Harris 2008 a success and always treasure the friendships and memories that you have made while at camp! Camp is a magical place where many of us feel at home. Cherish your time there and the good times it has provided. We hope to hear from you soon!
Well, this was recorded earlier today. ASCCA is doing live video this summer along with all the other videos, audio interviews and photos we post all the time.
Sara Latimer kindly agreed to join Kelli Hood today for a fun interview. Look for more videos this week featuring campers and counselors from Seale Harris at the Camp ASCCA Ustream.TV channel.
What do 98 campers, 18 counselors, doctors, nurses, dieticians, insulin, meters and snacks mean? IT’S SENIOR CAMP!! That’s right, Senior Camp 2008 is in full swing. Despite the gross weather last night, we kicked off our week with a jumping game of trivial pursuit…. camp style. Cabins and program staff answered questions to earn points towards honor cabin! Congratulations Cabin 6…. you came out on top!
Some things in store this week are great education sessions, fun programs and some amazing evening programs. In fact, a new addition to our program schedule, the cookie bake-off, is taking place tonight! Each cabin will have the opportunity to create cookies from scratch and develop a commercial to “sell” their cookies to the judges. We have some pretty tough critics, so I hope everyone is ready to bake it up.
Throughout the week I will try to post updates as to what is happening around camp. Make sure you tune in and keep up with what all is going on!
It’s official! Camp Seale Harris starts in less than a week! Our Family Camp 2008 will begin on Tuesday and we are so excited. Make sure that you have registered for Summer Camp 2008!!
Also, we WILL be having an Adventure Camp, as well as offering the Introduction to Leadership program. Both programs provide the camp experience with some extra things involved. Our Introduction to Leadership program provides youth with leadership skills and experiences that will not only help them in our camping program, but in the community as well! In addition to doing day-to-day camp activities, they will also be doing a few ’special’ projects as well! I can guarantee you that it will be a good time and very educational!
This year, Adventure Camp will take place at our very own Camp ASCCA. If you like camping (in tents), then this is the program for you! Our leaders and counselors are planning some great programs, including a trip to a state park for a day hike!
Please contact the office at (205) 402-0415 with any further questions! We hope to see YOU in just a few days!! I can’t wait!!
