Camp Kudzu
Strategic Plan adopted April 26, 2010

Camp Kudzu developed a strategic plan to guide it for the next five years.  The process included research into the needs of Georgia’s children with type 1 diabetes  and their families, a national review of services and other programs for children with diabetes and those with other medical conditions, interviews with key stakeholders, surveys of the programs and fee structures of many other camps, and a Board and Staff retreat.  The summary that follows sets forth our proposed strategies. 

The mission of Camp Kudzu is now stated as follows:
Camp Kudzu educates, empowers and inspires children living with diabetes.
Until there's a cure, there's Camp Kudzu!

The goals of the Strategic Plan are:
1.  Expand educational elements in every Camp Kudzu activity and program
2. Maintain character of the community served, distinguished by its diversity of culture, race, socio-economics
3. Deepen sense of community
4. Expand geographic sites for activities
5.Create basis to document outcomes and Return on Investment
6. Invert fundraising model to rely on individuals for 75% of donated revenue
7. Generate sufficient financial resources to minimize the cost to families
8. Assess opportunity for external research projects e.g., clinical, medical devices, etc.
9. Add diversity to the Camp Kudzu Board and Staff consistent with the population we serve
10. Assess potential to own and operate a Camp Kudzu home base

Camp Kudzu was founded in 1999, by parents, doctors, health professionals and community leaders who joined forces to establish a program in Georgia that would support the special medical needs of children with type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes in a fun, safe environment. We held our first summer camp in June, 2000. Since that time, the number of programs, campers and volunteers have continued to grow . . . like kudzu.

The challenge of living with this chronic, incurable disease knows no racial, cultural or socio-economic borders. Juvenile diabetes cannot be outgrown. It will not disappear with age or a change in diet. Children who do not participate in an aggressive medical management program are at risk for life threatening complications from diabetes, including heart disease, kidney failure and blindness.

Children with juvenile diabetes can never take a vacation from the disease. But there is now a place for them to learn and grow with other children facing the same struggles.