Welcome to Camp Kudzu

Camp Kudzu serves Georgia's children, teens and families with type 1 diabetes.  Camp brings to mind fresh air…laughter heard across a lake…starry skies…children running, climbing, swimming and looking up to caring adults.  Camp provides a sense of community.  The children, teens and  families who take part in Camp  Kudzu's programs learn that they are not alone in their struggle with diabetes.

Camp Kudzu offers summer camp, family weekends, and teen retreats.  The focus is on fun, but the lessons learned regarding diabetes self-management skills are critical to long-term health.  Children who have access to quality diabetes management education at a young age can reduce their risk of diabetes-related complications. Camp provides vital education in a setting that gives each child the best chance of practicing lessons learned.

We all await a cure.  Until that day comes, Camp Kudzu helps our young people live life to the fullest.

Teen Girls' Retreat was GREAT!  
Forty of the greatest girls in Georgia attended the teen girls' retreat last month, renewing friendships, meeting new girls, and getting a boost in living life fully with diabetes.  It was only 35 degrees Farenheit outside, but the spirit was warm.  Thank you to the terrific women who volunteered at this program and made it as special and good as it was:  Kelli O'Neil, Aimee Minton, Katie Van Galder, Caitlin Mobley, Kristin Echelberger, Ashlie Hale, Allie Tanner, Jodi Heflin, Staci Kies, Megan Smith, Jill Morrisey, Kaitlyn Dukes, Adria Francois, Leigh Richards, Chrissy Funaki, April Bumpus, Bethany Kinsey, Jenn Morrell, Jessie Hudson, Dr. Jen Badik, Gail Philbrick, Dianne Sanchez and Brandy Cochran.  And thank you to the only man allowed on site: Kurt Poling who moved mountains of luggage moving in and out!

Summer Camp Registration
If you applied for a summer camp session by mid-January, we sent you an email or a letter by US mail on Friday, January 29, offering you a spot at camp!  We hope that you are finding online registration to be a good way to complete our many forms and to make a choice of several camp fee payment options.  This year, we have added new features for online registration.  Please let us know of any hiccups in the process.  We will work with you to make sure all registrations, both online and paper, are completed with plenty of time to spare.  We are aware that the public schools in Cobb County, Paulding County and the city of Decatur are starting earlier than ever, which may pose conflicts with our Barney session.  Please let us know as soon as possible if you cannot attend the session of camp you wanted because of school conflicts.  We will do everything we can to help work with you.  Questions?  Kat Shreve has the answers!   404.250.1811, extension 21, or kshreve@campkudzu.org

2010 Giving: "Send a Child to Camp"
Please consider making the gift of camp possible.  Donating online is an easy possibility.  So is participation in our February 21 Sugar Bowl and our April 19 Kudzu Cup Fore! Kids.  Camp is not supported by ADA, JDRF or other such organizations, so we are totally reliant on camp fees and your donations.  We're here to help you help kids get to camp!  Thank you for ensuring that diabetes camp will be here for Georgia's children in need.
*Your gift of $1,300 provides a full scholarship for a child in need.  You can receive a top quality commemorative Camp Kudzu golf shirt as our thank you.
*Your gift of $500 will provide a partial scholarship for a child whose family may never have needed financial help before, but has struggled this year and needs our help.  And you can receive a useful gym bag as our thank you.
*Your gift of $250 covers the cost of nutritious meals and snacks for four campers for the week of camp.  We will be pleased to send you our signature license plate for the front of your car as a thank you.

      Click the Leaf and make your gift today!  

Strategic Plan in Progress
What do you think children with diabetes and their families need?  Camp Kudzu can plan best with a wide variety of perspectives, ideas and thoughts.  We want yours! If you would like to take part in an open-ended 15 minute conversation with a Board member about Camp Kudzu, please call Alex Allen at the office 404.250.1811.  If you would like to answer a few strategic questions on line, please click on the following link:  http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=xHCIM0Sv5hdB6RB3Xs6aNg_3d_3d.  Thank you!

We are ACA Accredited!
The American Camp Association (ACA) has granted accreditation to Camp Kudzu. The ACA reviewed hundreds of areas of operation, preparation, documentation and viewed our camp in action.  We are pleased to have received this stamp of approval and are happy to be guided and continuously instructed by the ACA, a national entity that values quality, safety and the best in camp programs for youth and children.

A Summer of Fun, A Summer of Growth
Three full and wonderful sessions of summer camp have ended.  Over 515 children and teens came to camp, learned important medical self-management lessons, met new friends and looked up to wonderful counselors, activity leaders, health care professionals (in t-shirts) and role models.  It is always hard to say good bye.  We start the countdown until we're together again! 

This summer, over 34% of our families received camperships thanks to the generosity of donors and people who participated in the Sugar Bowl and Kudzu Cup Fore! Kids.  Over 300 adults volunteered at camp, returning to "their" campers from as far away as Colorado and Washington State and as nearby as local colleges and universities.  Our volunteers represent an impressive range of professions, ages and capabilities.  Why do they come back?  Because our campers touch their hearts.

Interested in volunteering in our summer camp program?  Check out our volunteer information page.

Camp Kudzu's audited financial statements and IRS 990 are available for your viewing at  2009 Financial Statements and Latest IRS 990.

Wish List
New desk chairs that are supportively comfortable
Laptops with wifi, decent memory and ability to play our Camp Kudzu video
Meeting venue, near I-285, north end
Help in the office to upload photos and to sort and move BOXES

Help in our office for database management

Help in our office with event logistics

Help in our office so we can use social media!
Sky Miles and Frequent Flyer Miles or airline tickets (to get our out-of-state volunteers home to Georgia for camp)
Steelcase tall file cabinets
Free Office - 2,500-3,000 square feet!

Thank you!