Diabetes Youth Families strives to help children thrive

CONCORD, CA (May 28, 2024) — Camp is always fun, but when all your campmates have the exact same thing in common – Type 1 diabetes (T1D) – it makes it that much more inclusive.

Members of Diabetes Youth Families (DYF), a Concord based non-profit, run one of the oldest diabetes camps in the country. Dr. Mary Olney of UC-San Francisco founded it in 1938.

“Her belief was that with proper management, kids with T1D could do anything that children without T1D could do,” said Marissa Clarke-Howard of San Ramon, director of Development & Communications. “She was a visionary – she pushed the boundaries of what T1D care and management looked like.”

Olney started hosting kids every summer at Camp Whitaker in Sequoia National Forest, then moved it up the road to Bearskin Meadow Camp in 1950. Programs include sports, arts and crafts, dancing, singing and much more. The backdrop of kids checking their blood sugar and counting carbs creates a common bond and community.

Finding support

Castro Valley resident Elaine Albanesi’s entire family has attended DYF’s camps for the last 11 years, starting when her T1D son was 3 years old.

“What we love most about DYF is that they have given us a community of families that deal with T1D and the struggles we face every day. We don’t feel alone,” she said. “We, as a family, would not be where we are today without these camps. This organization has changed our lives, and it has given us support and a bright vision for my son’s future.”

Camp director Samantha Gomez of Hanford first attended the camp when she was 13, after being diagnosed with T1D in 2005.

“I was nervous at first. After skipping a couple of summers, I came back and attended teen camp and fell in love with everything Bearskin had to offer,” she said. “I’ve met some of my closest friends at camp. The community and support we give one another is truly amazing.”

Going beyond camp boundaries

DYF also hosts community programs, weekend family retreats and adventure programs.

“They have a wonderful diversity of program offerings at DYF that really meet people where they are at in their diabetes journey,” noted Whitney Wright, a program director seasonally since 2016 and full-time since 2022.
Free monthly Bay Area meet-up groups are offered in-person and online, tailored to specific audiences: kids, parents and adults affected by Type 1 diabetes.

The weekend family retreats invite the entire family to camp.

“Parents spend the weekend learning from some of the best doctors and endocrinologists in California, while the kids get a chance to play and spend time with other kids that are also living with T1D,” Wright said. “And at the summer camp program, a child with Type 1 can bring a non-Type 1 buddy to share the camp experience with.”

‘A nurturing community’

After searching for ways to serve the diabetic community, social media influencer Doris Hobbs of Walnut Creek founded DYF online.

“Intrigued by their mission, I reached out to collaborate on an event I was coordinating at Neiman Marcus Walnut Creek Since then, they’ve become an organization close to my heart,” said Hobbs, who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes 10 years ago at age 31.

“I deeply appreciate how the organization fosters education and recreation within a nurturing community, promoting personal development, learning and autonomy,” she said. “In today’s society, where both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are rapidly increasing, organizations recognize this trend and are actively seeking ways to improve the lives of those facing these challenges.”

A model influenced by 1940s’ fashion, Hobbs supported DYF’s gala on April 20 at the Fairmont San Francisco. With the theme “Life Without Limits,” the event raised funds to subsidize costs for campers, camp operations and programs.

“Doris has had such an impact on our ‘Life Without Limits’ gala,” said Shanti Peterson of Brentwood, senior manager of Development & Communications. “She reached out to her community and secured great auction items that enhanced our auction. We are grateful for her commitment to supporting DYF.”

Finding her safe space

Julia Philips started with DYF in 1996, when she was only 3, and is now the community program coordinator/ community associate and also assistant camp director during the summer. She says it’s a place where she feels “normal.”

“That’s because I don’t have to explain what I’m doing or what I mean when I say, ‘I’m high’ or ‘I’m low’ – people know and understand and ask what I need,” said the Oakland resident. “It’s also a place to build community and get support. Over all the years of being part of the organization, no matter who is working, it always feels like a safe space to come back to.”

According to Clarke-Howard, DYF remains a leader in the diabetes camping field and is also a founding member of the Diabetes Education Camping Association (DECA). Ultimately, DYF wants to remove the stigma around diabetes.

“I hope people learn not to assume or make value judgements around diabetes and instead approach it with an open mind,” she said.

For more information, visit DYF.org. Follow Doris Hobbs on Instagram @richinlovefashion.