by Caleb Seney, Executive Director
For many children, summer camp means swimming, games, laughter, new friendships and a chance to experience independence away from home.
For children living with Type 1 Diabetes, those same experiences can sometimes come with additional challenges. Managing blood sugar, insulin, meals and daily routines can create barriers that many children their age never have to consider.
That is why Camp Hot Shots was created.
A program of MedCamps of Louisiana in partnership with the Diabetes Care Center, Camp Hot Shots provides children with Type 1 Diabetes the opportunity to experience a traditional overnight summer camp while learning the skills needed to better manage their health and gain confidence in their independence.
Hosted at MedCamps’ Camp Alabama facility in Lincoln Parish, Camp Hot Shots combines everything children love about summer camp (outdoor activities, friendships, adventure and fun) all with specialized medical education and support.
“The idea behind the camp is that we want these kids to take ownership of their own diabetes,” said Ashlea Hill of Diabetes Care Center. “They’re not always going to be kids. While they are at camp, they are having these incredible experiences like zip lines, swimming, horseback riding, group games and all the things that make summer camp special, but they also have medical education built into the experience.”
Camp Hot Shots began in 2019 after Jennifer Holtz, wife of former Louisiana Tech head football coach Skip Holtz and a former MedCamps board member, helped create a camp specifically designed for children with juvenile diabetes. The Holtz family’s connection to Type 1 Diabetes made the mission especially meaningful, as Skip Holtz’s younger brother Kevin was diagnosed with the disease in the early 1980s.
Each summer, campers from across Louisiana and beyond come together at Camp Alabama for a week where they quickly discover something important: they are not alone.
Ashlea Hill, FNP-C, BC-ADM, CDE, owner and operator of the Diabetes Care Center in Ruston, has helped lead the medical efforts behind Camp Hot Shots. Hill and her team work alongside campers throughout the week, helping them understand their diabetes management while using modern technology to monitor blood sugar levels and make informed decisions.
The goal is not simply to care for campers — it is to teach them how to care for themselves.
Throughout the week, children learn how food, activity and daily choices affect their blood sugar. They gain confidence using their equipment, asking questions and making decisions about their own health.
For many campers, the progress made during the week is transformational.
Seeing a child arrive at camp relying heavily on parents or caregivers and leave with greater confidence and independence is one of the most rewarding parts of the experience.
Beyond the medical education, Camp Hot Shots provides something every child deserves and that is the chance to simply be a kid.
Campers ride horses, participate in games, enjoy waterfront activities, make new friends and create memories in an environment designed specifically for their needs. MedCamps’ mission has always centered around removing barriers so children with chronic illnesses and disabilities can experience the same joy and adventure found at any summer camp.
The specialized programming offered through MedCamps is made possible because of partnerships with medical professionals, volunteers, donors and community supporters who believe every child deserves the opportunity to experience camp.
At Camp Hot Shots, children leave with more than new skills for managing diabetes. They leave with friendships, confidence and the knowledge that their diagnosis does not define what they can accomplish.
That is the true mission of MedCamps. “We are creating opportunities where children can discover independence, build resilience and experience the unbridled joy of being a kid,” says Kacie Whipple, Camp Director.
MedCamps programs are provided free of charge to eligible campers. To learn more about MedCamps of Louisiana, volunteer opportunities or ways to support its mission, visit MedCamps.org.
