Harrisburg Diabetic Youth Camp: History

The Harrisburg Diabetic Youth Camp is one of the oldest diabetes camping programs in the country, dating to its inception in 1977. The HDYC originally began with just 20 campers! The program was originally created by the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation (JDF), and was held at several sites before settling in 1996 at its permanent home, Camp Victory. Having settled at Camp Victory, the HDYC faced a new challenge in 1998 - the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation was closing all of its camps. The JDF's (now the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) mission was to dedicating its funding for research, not to operate diabetes camps.

In 1998, Setebaid Services acquired the HDYC from the JDF and immediately expanded the program's size. Today, the HDYC serves over 85 campers in late June every year.

Despite the management and location changes, continuity of philosophy has been maintained by continuity of staff. A camp for children, who just happen to all have diabetes has remained. Since founded in 1977, the HDYC has had only five directors. Many of the staff has been involved in planning, or working at the camp for over five years, and some of the original founders remain on staff and the planning committee.