Diabetes Summer Sport Camp

Diabetes Summer Sports Camp at York University photos

Running since 2008, the Diabetes Sport Camps at York University is offered to youth with Type 1 diabetes. This unique camp offered by Sport and Recreation York, is led by Dr. Michael Riddell, a world renowned diabetes and exercise physiologist and associate professor at the Faculty of Health. This camp is supported by the Diabetes Hope Foundation, Medtronic and LifeScan Canada, and focuses on youth ages 8-16, who choose to specialize in one sport for a week (soccer, basketball, tennis or track & field). The camp runs for two weeks every year in July at the York University Keele campus.

Type 1 Campers
Campers with type 1 diabetes are integrated with other non-diabetic campers of the same age range for most of the day, but will also be grouped back together at points in the day for blood glucose monitoring and to share stories about active living with diabetes. The goal of the camp is to offer a fun sporting experience in a safe, diabetes-friendly environment.

The camp teaches children with type 1 diabetes how exercise can be used to better manage their diabetes.

Camp Features:

  • Experienced and qualified instructors
  • Low instructor/participant ratio
  • Outstanding facilities
  • Lunch service available
  • Extended service from 8-9 am, 4-5 pm
  • Grouping according to age/ability
  • Daily recreational swim
  • Participation in Swim to Survive Program
  • Transportation for campers from Mississauga, Whitby, Hamilton and surrounding area.
  • Information Package sent upon registration

Camp Staff:

  • Head Clinic Exercise Physiologist Dr. Michael Riddell
  • Head/Assistant coaches from York inter-university sport teams
  • Inter-university athletes
  • Students and staff of the Sport & Recreation York Program
  • Certified Diabetes Educators

All Summer Sport Camps staff are experienced in working with children, have completed in-house training requirements and are Standard First Aid and CPR certified.

Diabetes Care:
All campers with diabetes will have access to nursing staff, athletic therapy and clinical exercise physiologists. Campers are to bring their own diabetes monitoring and insulin equipment and their own snacks for morning and afternoon session. Campers with Type 1 diabetes will be integrated in with other campers of the same age range and skill level for most of the day, but also be grouped back together at points in the day for blood glucose monitoring and for sharing stories about active living with diabetes.

If you have any special dietary needs or any other concerns (allergies, special needs, etc.), please contact Dr. Michael Riddell, 416-736-2100 x 40493, mriddell@yorku.ca