I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in May 1998 meaning I was just about to turn 2! This means that I don't know what it is like to live without it. I control my diabetes with an insulin pump which infuses a constant stream of background insulin into my system through a canula that sits just below my skin. I also have to calculate the additional insulin I need for the food I eat. The new science behind diabetes equipment has made a lot of lives so much better as it means it is easier to eat the foods that before would cause major blood sugar issues.  Before I left for camp I had to make sure I had enough insulin to last me 3 months which was a struggle (thank you NHS) and to make sure I had enough equipment for my pump as some of the parts need replacing ever 3 days. My advice for anyone considering camp with diabetes is to be over prepared! I've got extra equipment and extra insurance to cover anything that could go horribly wrong. Fingers crossed it wont!  I came to camp w

Camp has officially started! The first set of campers arrived last week and left on Friday. We are nearly half way through the second week of campers! The days fly by that's for sure. Last week I was running an outdoor adventure program for 7-9 year olds and I was shattered by the end of it! This week I've got the same age group but it's a mermaid magic program with lots of swimming! This morning we had a polar bear swim before breakfast which I think the campers secretly enjoyed even though they moaned! I seriously underestimated the amount of help that this age group needed! I have to make sure I physically see what they have in their swimming bags before we leave for the pool or there will be chaos when we eventually arrive for swimming. I learnt that the hard way!  I've made a swimming bag list on a whiteboard we have in our unit house so the girls can have some independence on checking that they have all the right things. I   struggled towards the end of last wee

So, pre camp is over!! This is the mandatory 7-9 day training that all summer camps in the US have to provide for all their staff before the campers arrive. It's been fun and I've loved meeting all the staff from around the globe but I'm absolutely shattered. In fact, my mum even messaged me today to ask if I was getting enough sleep as I looked so tired in the photos I had posted on Instagram! Throughout pre camp we have learnt all about the importance of safety for both us and the campers, team building exercises, and making the camp spotless for the first set of campers to arrive on Sunday. Earlier this week we all had to move into different units around camp so that we were in the right spaces for the program we are running. I've been given the outdoor adventure program for 7-9 year olds. This is what I wanted so I'm pleased. I was also given a promotion from unit counselor to unit leader which I'm excited but also nervous for as it'll be my responsibil

I've made it and managed to survive two full days here at Camp Potomac Woods! My host family who picked me up from the air port were lovely! She took us out for dinner on the first night and then sent us into Washington for the day on Tuesday. I loved walking round the city and seeing all the capitol buildings. I think Washington is one of my favorite cities as it is so quiet and peaceful compared to other capital cities. It's definitely rustic here at camp as the loos are really just a massive hole in the ground with an extended toilet seat on top. My first day was interesting, I woke up with conjunctivitis and was isolated from the rest of the staff until I could get some eye drops from Target. I then got stung by a wasp twice but that was the end of my misfortunes for now! We have 9 days of training until the camp starts which has been really fun! Lots of getting to know you games and team building. There are so many international staff here it's great to hear so many

Summer camp is getting closer! In T minus 10 days I will be leaving the UK for hotter climates and screaming children. I’m sat on a night shift so I thought I’d write another blog post on what I have and will be doing in the lead up to camp and how I am dealing with it all. I’m sorry if I babble, it’s the middle of the night. I’m tired ok! So I’m sat here counting the shifts I have left until I leave (3 if you want to know!!) and all I can think is I’m going to forget to pack something important, if you know me you’ll know I’ll probably forget my passport. These past few weeks packing has been on my mind but it’s stressing me out as I have to move out of my flat and back to my parents before I fly so I can’t really pack anything in Bournemouth as most of my things are at home in Sussex. For those of you who are thinking about signing up to Camp America next year you’ll learn that you will get sent so many different packing lists from Camp America, your camp, previous counsellors