The Gales Creek Camp near Banks, east of Portland, caters to children and teenagers with Type 1 diabetes.

"We're there to give them a good camp experience and feed them information," said Debby Boekeloo, who works on the camp's fund-raising and public relations.

Boekeloo, who grew up in Coos Bay, is trying to encourage more families from the South Coast to send their children to the one-week sessions at the 50-year-old summer camp. There also are family and weekend camps throughout the year.

It's a typical camp in many ways. Kids play basketball and baseball, soccer and pingpong. There are arts and crafts and hikes. Campers sing songs around campfires. But the focus all the way around is teaching kids how to control their diabetes and introducing them to a network of friends with similar lifestyles.

"When a child is diabetic it's a new dynamic in your family. It affects everyone," Boekeloo said.

Boekeloo's brother had Type 1 diabetes and her family's experiences helping him with the disease in part prompted her to take a job at the camp. Thirty-plus years ago, her mother was forced to drive her brother to a Portland hospital for medical care. Her family never knew about the camp.

"I think it would have saved my brother from some of the anguish he went through," she said.

At the camp, the children are under 24-hour supervision by medical personnel, all of whom are experts in dealing with diabetes or have the disease. The staff monitors the campers' blood sugar levels around the clock and teaches them how to care for themselves. Also, an endocrinologist specializing in work with children is at the camp at all times.

The camp provides all medical supplies and food. Not only does it offer the kids some independence and a chance to learn to care for themselves, it gives parents a break, Boekeloo said.

"We want these kids to connect with other kids," she added.

Gales Creek is the only accredited camp in Oregon or southwest Washington for children and teenagers with diabetes. The cost for a week's stay is $290, but Boekeloo said that shouldn't be a deterrent to families who can't afford it. The camp donated $17,000 in camperships last year. The organization also works with Lions clubs to sponsor campers.

For information about the camp and applications, interested families and community service groups can contact Boekeloo at Gales Creek Camp (503) 968-2267. Families are encouraged to turn in applications soon, because there are limited openings.

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On the Net

http://www.Galescreekcamp.org