Molly Center Hosts Inaugural Summer Camp for Kids with Diabetes

In 2025, the Molly Center for Children with Diabetes at Hackensack University Medical Center’s Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital hosted its inaugural summer camp for children with Type 1 diabetes. The summer day camp was held at the Wyckoff YMCA and included traditional camp activities as well as education about diabetes management.

“For children who have Type 1 diabetes, knowing that they aren’t alone is powerful,” said pediatric endocrinologist Shoshana Tell, M.D. “It was heartwarming to watch our patients make new friends while learning how to take the best care of themselves.”

According to Dr. Tell, attending a traditional summer camp comes with unique challenges for children with Type 1 diabetes. These include regulating blood sugar, managing medication, and no or limited access to staff trained to assist if there is a question or problem. The Molly Center camp provides a fun and educational summer activity for children while offering reassurance for parents who may have concerns about their child’s access to diabetes care while away from home.

“Our camp is run by our diabetes care team, who are fully trained in diabetes management,” said Dr. Tell.

The 2025 camp experience was open to all patients at the Molly Center for Children with Diabetes. The camp was funded entirely through philanthropy, with no child paying anything to attend.

“We want to thank the hospital Foundation and its generous donors for making our first summer camp a reality, and plans are already underway for our second summer camp in 2026,” said Dr. Tell.

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