Get to know us
This program is designed for 16 and 17 year olds who are looking to broaden their leadership skills and become a member of the camp staff family.
Our program engages youth in a recreational environment while challenging them to further develop their own leadership skills, learn the operations of running a camp program, gain experience working with children in a mentorship environment and heighten their own personal growth while at camp.
Camp Life
Our Leadership Development Program (LDP) in Newfoundland is expanding and now offers two leadership programs.
Our Leadership Development Program (LDP) is designed for youth with diabetes who have an interest in developing their leadership skills. This program is the first step to becoming a D-Camps counselor—a lot of our staff have been through the program and it shows!
This program is divided into two segments (LDP 1 and LDP 2) based on age. Both segments will teach strong leadership skills through hands-on experiences, high quality coaching and guidance from trained staff, and consistent feedback.
The goal of LDP is for youth to return from camp with an increase in confidence, skills to lead a group and an increased understanding of the qualities of a good leader.
About the Camp
Activities
Topics
LDP participants will cover topics related to working at camp as well as general leadership techniques they can use in their home community. Topics include: conflict resolution, managing behaviour, team building and empowerment.
Activity
The participants attend Camp Douwanna (plus one additional training day) for their summer of training. The few days are lesson-orientated sessions and the remainder of the week is a practicum-style session to gain hands-on experience working with campers.
Campers & Staff
Campers
Aimed at teens ages 16 to 17, our program accepts 10 leadership campers per session.
LDP 1 session
LDP 1 is for youth who have turned 16 prior to June 30, 2023.
In this program, participants will be led by our LDP Directors. Our Directors will work with the participants (LDP 1s) to develop basic leadership skills like conflict resolution, communicating clearing, setting goals for yourself and others, leading by example among other important attributes of a leader.
LDP 2 session
LDP 2 is for youth who have turned 17 prior to June 30, 2023.
In this program, participants (LDP 2s) will be led by our LDP Directors. Our Directors will work with the LDP 2s to further develop leadership skills with a focus on being a leader in the camp community. Skills like camper care, dealing with homesickness, planning and leading programs and games and being a positive type 1 diabetes role model. LDP 2s will be spending a substantial portion of their time at camp shadowing counselors in a cabin group. They will have the opportunity to use the skills they are developing and receive feedback from the D-Camps staff team.
Our staff
The Leadership Development Program is headed up by a dedicated pair of leadership directors.
The Leadership Directors come to us from:
- D-Camps’ Leadership Development Program Camp Lion Maxwell’s staff team
- The D-Camps Atlantic Resource Team
- Led by Dr. Heather Power, Our Nurse Coordinator Brittany Rossiter, BNRN CDE and our Lead Dietitian Sarah Comerford RN Participants are supervised by program and medical staff 24 hours a day.
The camp health-care team comes to us from:
- Diabetes education clinics across Newfoundland
- Family practices
- Diabetes educators, nurses, physicians, registered dietitians and medical students make up this wonderful group and are part of the cabin team.
Guides
In the guide, you will find information on:
- Packing lists
- Directions and transportation for drop off and pick up
- Contact information
Rates & Dates
LDP
| Age | Rate |
|---|---|
| Youth | $500 |
If this fee is a challenge for you and your family Diabetes Canada offers subsidies to those who qualify for financial assistance. These subsidies are made possible through the generous support of various donors.
It is our responsibility to ensure that donations go to support families experiencing financial hardship that would make attending camp impossible.
To determine eligibility for a subsidy, you will be asked to complete a financial assistance application. When reviewing applications, income will not be the only consideration in whether an applicant qualifies for subsidy. Our goal is to ensure that all campers have an opportunity regardless of their financial situation while using donations as prudently as possible.
Who is eligible for financial support?
You may be eligible for a subsidy if you:
-
Receive financial assistance from an identified government program, OR
-
Experience financial hardship and do not receive government financial assistance.
What does financial hardship mean?
Financial hardship means that a person has difficulty paying for basic daily living expenses (e.g. food, shelter, clothing), and does not have access to savings or other financial resources.
Note: Supporting documents will be required to determine eligibility. Please be prepared to provide a copy of your paystub, T4 or Notice of Assessment to accompany your application.
Important to note:
To ensure that we are providing equitable access to financial assistance we will not be able to consider you request until you have completed the financial assistance application form in full. This includes the requested supporting documents