This special summer camp gives children with Type 1 diabetes (T1D) the opportunity to have a fun outdoor experience while under the care of a medical team.
Stay cool and swim and dive in the pool. Splash down the turbo water chute for the ultimate slip and slide. Hike up the mountain, enjoy great views and adventure. Get your game on by playing gaga ball, soccer, basketball, kickball, four square, dodgeball, and more. Sing, create, play and enjoy arts and crafts, songs, and games.
- Week 1: July 27 - July 31, 2026
- Week 2: August 3 - 7, 2026
- Ages: 6 – 13 years old
- Time: 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
- Fee: $242 per week
- Scholarships are available. Please contact Carolyn Daniels for details at cdaniels@meridenymca.org.
- Extended day is not available.
- Parent pick up and drop off is encouraged, bus transportation will be available to and from Downtown Hartford and New Haven locations. Please email cdaniels@meridenymca.org for more information.
- Registration is required for participation. Upon registration, medical information will be shared with the medical team to ensure the safety and well-being of all participants. Detailed schedules and additional camp resources will be provided after enrollment. Call 203.235.6386 or register in person at the Y.
- The registration deadline is July 21, 2026. No Y membership needed. Non-members are welcome.
My Y Story
Karen Blank and grandson Vincent
Last summer for the first time ever, my grandson was able to go to summer camp. He went to the Mountain Mist Pathfinders camp for children with Type 1 diabetes (T1D). Camp scholarships helped me to send him for two weeks.
It was a wonderful experience for him to be able to go to camp and socialize with other kids, especially kids with Type 1 diabetes. He used to get picked on at school a lot for having diabetes. At Pathfinders Camp he was with kids that were like him. One day when I picked him up he said "Grandma, I am not alone." This gave me goosebumps and a joyful tear in my eyes.
He learned a lot from them including new technology he could use to more easily monitor his sugars and administer insulin. After camp I got him a phone. This new technology has improved his care and he can take care of his diabetes discreetly when he is at school.
I used to get daily phone calls from his school about his sugar. When he was at camp under the care of RNs they knew exactly what to do and I did not receive daily calls. I was in heaven because I knew he was in good hands.
At his end-of-the-year school conference they recommended that he do something over the summer that would be good for his socialization. This camp really helped him with that. He made friends and is still friends with the other campers and texts with them. He is looking forward to coming back again.
There aren't enough words to describe how wonderful this camp is or how thankful we are to everyone who made Pathfinders possible. I drove one hour each way to bring him there and will gladly do it again. We made thank you cards and sent messages to Carolyn Daniels, the Connecticut Lions Club, camp staff and volunteers. Your efforts help families and children make this dream camp a reality. You make dreams come true!
My Y Story
This was Annalise's second year attending the diabetes camp and I cannot express enough how thankful we are. She made more friends this year whom she will be staying in touch with and growing with. She came home with a story to tell every day and was seriously upset to have missed two days this year. This camp provides her with two weeks of happiness, peace and adventures. She packs her own lunch the night before, gets her bag ready the night before and is ready to go every morning. The bus is an important aspect for her as it provides her with some independence. The kids on the bus have become such good friends. Today they all exchanged phone numbers and created a group chat called "da camp amigos", yes, that's how they spelled "da".
As her parents, we are incredibly thankful for the financial aid you provide us with and for the transportation. Thank you for being an important part of her life and for building these memories with and for her. Thank you so much for all you do for our children, for the volunteers, camp counselors, doctors and sponsors.
Annalise learned so much about insulin pumps last year at camp that she easily decided on which pump she wanted even before the option was offered to her. This year was just as insightful and she made new friends. This camp is very important for T1D children. - Celeste
Pathfinders Camp Community Partners
Thank you to our wonderful community partners: The CT Lions Clubs, Goldy Disc Course Designers, and SLAMT1D, Inc.
Camp Photos & Videos
- 2026 Pathfinders T1D Camp
- Pathfinders Camp Photos
- 2025 Pathfinders Camp
- Summer Fun at Pathfinders Camp
Please donate to Pathfinders T1D Camp Scholarships.