Camp FAQs

We want all children with diabetes to be able to go to camp, regardless of their financial need! No camper will be turned away due to financial reasons!

You can set up your own payment plan! Once you register for camp (and pay the $25 registration fee), call (205) 402-0415 or email our Camp Registrar, Sarah Latimer, (sarah@campsealeharris.org) to set up a payment plan. You can have us automatically charge a credit/debit card on dates that you specify, or you can set dates where you will send us a check or money order.

Our camp programs range from free one day events to paid overnight and day programs. Click below to find a program and see prices.

While we do not have any open beds during our overnight programs for children without diabetes, you may register one child without diabetes with their sibling/friend during any of our Day Camp programs (Dothan, Huntsville, Tuscaloosa, Birmingham, Mobile). You may also bring children without diabetes along with the rest of the family during any of our Family Camp programs.

While you may definitely pay in full for your camp session(s) when registering, we only require that a $25 registration fee (per program) be submitted along with your registration forms. This $25 is part of the camp fee.

There are multiple ways to easily register for any of our Camp Seale Harris programs

Camp Seale Harris staff will contact the parents if there are health concerns with a camper. If your camper needs to be picked up from camp, an authorized adult must pick them up within 8 hours of the phone call. Medical staff are onsite to assist and make decisions with any sickness.

All staff and volunteers are fully vetted and background checked. At Camp Seale Harris, we take great pride in our staff. The vast majority of our counselors and CITs have come up through the ranks. At Camp Seale Harris, campers follow a “buddy rule” so they will never be alone with a staff member, volunteer, or other camper.

• For overnight camps, if eligible for more than one session, we ask that campers pick Senior, Junior, or Coastal Camp. They may be placed on the waitlist for the other program and will be accepted if there ends up being available space.
• Campers, if able to, may attend more than one day camp program per year.
• Families may attend more than one family camp per year.

Definitely not! Each camp session includes several campers who are also at camp for the first time. Our counselors and other staff are great at getting everyone to quickly meet each other and become fast friends!

• Insulin, insulin pens, meters, test strips, low blood sugar supplies – these are supplied by camp.
• Cell phones (Except CGM or pump users – see question below “What about my CGM or pump? It connects with my phone”).
• Electronics (games, music devices without headphones, etc.).
• Any form of tobacco or alcohol.
• Unprescribed drugs/medications – all medications, even those over-the-counter, must be accompanied by a doctor’s note and be kept by medical staff at camp.
• Weapons.

Camp Seale Harris will call you if:

• Your camper is ill and in the Health Center for an extended amount of time.
• Your camper must leave camp for health reasons (e.g. hospital).
• Your camper is having issues with missing home, and we want to let you know and get your feedback on the best way(s) to handle it – combining your great experience with your child with our experience with dealing with kids in the camp environment.
• Your camper is unable to function within the Camp Seale Harris Discipline Policy.

• At Camp Seale Harris, campers are unplugged – and this includes phone calls, as well as internet and personal cell phones. While we do want them focusing on the activities and fun that they’re going to have, we have found that conversations with parents, friends, or others from home often make them miss home more instead of helping to manage it in a healthy way. The campers stay busy, and the counselors and staff are trained to deal with cases of missing home or when the camper is upset. We have found that more campers go home early when they call home.
• While, as stated previously, your child cannot talk with you via phone, there are ways for you to check in and see how things are going. The first (and easiest) way is to check our website for pictures that we post from camp daily. We strive to get every child in a picture at least every other day. The second way is for you to call our camp office to find out about your camper. When you call, the office staff will take your name, your phone number, your camper’s name, and what cabin they’re in. Over the course of a few hours, we will find out specifics (usually from the cabin counselor) about how that camper is doing, including about their diabetes management, and call you back. Please note that it might be the next morning before you receive a call back depending on the activities currently going on at camp. It is important for us to get specific information about your camper to you (instead of a general “they’re doing fine”) and this can take some time.

• Cell phones (or internet-enabled mobile devices like an iPod Touch, etc.) can only be brought to camp (and used by) campers using a CGM or pump system.
• Devices for CGM readings and pumps will be kept by the camper’s cabin counselor during most hours and will only be used for Dexcom or pump features. They may not be used for any other purpose (calls, texts, music, internet, etc.).
• At night all devices will be charged near the camper so that readings may be transmitted successfully to the medical staff.
• Camp Seale Harris will connect devices to our wireless network (used solely for CGM information).
• The Share/Follow functions will be disabled on the camper’s device during their time at Camp Seale Harris (Dexcom readings will only be viewable by camp staff). Designated staff will be watching CGM data during night-time hours while the campers and cabin counselors are asleep (in addition to overnight “rounds” by medical staff which will continue to occur).
• While it is not a requirement for campers using Dexcom CGMs to bring a phone/internet-enabled device, having this device (as opposed to solely using their insulin pump that is integrated with Dexcom, etc.) is the only method in which Camp Seale Harris will be able to view data remotely. The camper and cabin counselor will always be able to look at any device personally to get CGM information.
• Parents may continue to call the CSH Office during the week of camp to get information about their camper including diabetes information, how they are enjoying their activities, etc.

Cell phones are not allowed for camper use at Camp Seale Harris (except for CGM and pump users – see question above “What about my CGM or pump? It connects with my phone”). We, as a camp (and the camping community at-large), have regularly found cell phones to be a distraction from the forging of healthy relationships with other campers and mentor staff, and can sabotage the fun and learning experience that Camp Seale Harris can provide. We want campers tuning into and learning from each other instead of being tethered to the outside world for the week that they’re at camp. This cell phone policy is one that we have made after combining camper experiences, feedback from other diabetes camps, and best practices of other camps within the American Camp Association.

The only diabetes supplies that you need to bring with you are insulin pump supplies and CGM supplies, if you use either. We provide insulin, insulin pens, meters, test strips, lancet devices (to prick your finger with), glucose tablets, syringes, and more! Call our office for more information.

In general, the only required items at any of our day camps are a swimsuit, towel, and insulin pump and CGM supplies. Most other diabetes supplies are provided (call for more specific information). You should wear closed-toed shoes (like tennis shoes) for running around!

• Enough clothes for the entire week (at least one change per day).
• Closed-toed shoes (like tennis shoes) for running around!
• Swimsuit
• Items to shower with, brush your teeth, brush your hair, etc.
• Only insulin pump and CGM supplies are needed – camp provides most other diabetes supplies (call for more specific information).
• See the packing list for your session for more details