When I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at five years old, I didn’t know another child living with diabetes.
I was the only one checking my blood sugar at school, carrying diabetes supplies everywhere I went, and receiving insulin before lunch each day.
Back then, insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors weren’t part of my daily life. Instead, my mom had a permanent visitor’s pass at my elementary school so she could come every single day at lunchtime to give me my insulin injection before I ate. Looking back now, I realize what an incredible sacrifice that was. She never hesitated—she simply did whatever she needed to do to help me live as normal a childhood as possible.
While my family did everything they could to support me, there was still a part of me that wondered if anyone outside of my family truly understood what life with Type 1 diabetes was like.
Then, in the summer of 2006, everything changed.
That was the first year my brother, Martin, and I packed our bags and headed to Camp Sweeney in Gainesville, Texas.
Neither of us knew it then, but Camp Sweeney would become one of the biggest parts of our childhood.
For the next 13 summers, I spent three weeks there every year. My brother attended for 11 summers. Every single year, we counted down the days until it was finally time to go back.
Opening Day… and Closing Day
Camp really began the night before.
Every summer, my family would drive to Gainesville and stay at the same hotel. It became our tradition, and what made it even more exciting was seeing other Camp Sweeney families staying there too. Before camp had officially begun, we were already running into friends we hadn’t seen since the previous summer.
The next morning, we’d wake up early and head through the gates of Camp Sweeney.
As soon as we walked into the SAC (Student Activity Center), our parents headed to registration while my brother and I immediately ran off to find our friends. It didn’t matter if we’d talked throughout the year or not. The moment we saw each other, it felt like no time had passed.
Once registration was complete, we’d race to our cabin to find out who our bunkmate would be for the next three weeks. Meanwhile, our parents unpacked our suitcases and made our beds while we were already off making memories.
As strange as it may sound, we couldn’t wait to tell our parents goodbye—not because we didn’t love them, but because we knew the best three weeks of the year were about to begin.
Ironically, my very first summer was completely different.
That first night, I cried because I missed my parents.
Three weeks later, I cried because I didn’t want to leave.
Somewhere during those three weeks, Camp Sweeney stopped feeling like a place I was visiting and started feeling like a second home.
A Place Where Diabetes Was Normal
One of the greatest gifts Camp Sweeney gave me was realizing I wasn’t alone.
For the first time in my life, everyone around me had Type 1 diabetes.
Everyone checked their blood sugar.
Everyone knew what it felt like to have a low blood sugar.
Everyone understood insulin injections, insulin pumps, finger sticks, and the daily challenges that come with living with Type 1 diabetes.
But one of the most special parts of camp was that, for those three weeks, we got to focus on being kids.
At mealtimes, we didn’t have to calculate carbohydrates or figure out our insulin doses. Before each meal, we’d check our blood sugar and choose the meal plan we wanted to eat. The incredible medical staff took it from there, using our blood sugar and the meal we selected to determine the appropriate insulin dose.
Looking back, I realize what a gift that was.
It allowed us to spend less time worrying about the math of diabetes and more time making memories with our friends, knowing we were surrounded by people who understood exactly how to care for us.
There were no awkward questions.
No curious stares.
No feeling different.
For three weeks every summer, diabetes wasn’t what made us different.
It was what brought us together.
Adventures Every Day
Camp Sweeney wasn’t just about diabetes—it was an incredible summer camp.
Every day was packed with activities. We hiked through the trails, spent time swimming in the pool, fished, relaxed at Lake Deeley, raced down the famous big slide, played basketball and tennis, made arts and crafts, danced during Zumba, and tried something new almost every day.
One of my favorite places at camp was the radio station.
I loved getting to produce the radio show with Chad. Hearing our voices broadcast across camp made us feel like celebrities, and it’s still one of my favorite memories.
Another person who made camp unforgettable was Bob Cannon, Camp Sweeney’s photographer.
Bob was always walking around with a camera, capturing moments that campers would treasure forever. I loved spending time with him throughout the summers, and during my final year at camp, he trusted me with one of his extra cameras for the entire three weeks. That meant more to me than he probably ever realized.
Some of the photos I took that summer—and even some of the video footage I captured—were later used in Camp Sweeney brochures and promotional materials that are still shared today. Knowing I was able to give something back to the camp that gave me so much is something I’ll always be proud of.
One of my favorite camp memories was our annual camp hike.
Every summer, we’d head out on the trails together, spending the day hiking through the Texas countryside. It wasn’t about how far we walked or where we ended up—it was about who we were with along the way. We laughed, talked, encouraged one another, stopped for pictures, and made memories that I’ll never forget.
Looking back through the photos from those hikes, I can still remember so many of the little moments that made Camp Sweeney so special. The conversations on the trail, the jokes that had everyone laughing, and simply spending time with friends who understood exactly what it was like to live with Type 1 diabetes are memories I’ll always treasure.
Like so many activities at Camp Sweeney, diabetes never stopped us from joining the adventure. We checked our blood sugars, treated a low if we needed to, and then got right back to hiking. Diabetes was simply part of the day—it never defined what we were capable of doing.
Those hike photos remind me that some of the best Camp Sweeney memories weren’t always the biggest events. Sometimes they were the simplest moments—walking the trails with friends, soaking in the Texas scenery, and enjoying every minute of the best three weeks of the year.
Traditions That Made Camp Feel Like Home
Some of my favorite memories weren’t the big events.
They were the traditions.
If you’ve ever been to Camp Sweeney, you probably know exactly what I mean when I say “Chicken Strip Night”.
One table would start singing the Chicken Strip Song and point to the next table. Then that table would sing it and point to the next. Before long, every table in the dining hall had joined in. It was loud, chaotic, and so much fun. It wasn’t really about the chicken strips—it was about everyone joining together in a tradition that made camp feel like home.
Another tradition I always looked forward to was chapel.
Each week, campers gathered together for chapel, taking a break from the excitement of camp to reflect, sing together, and spend time as one camp family.
The very first chapel of each session was one of the most meaningful because it was dedicated to the senior speeches. Campers spending their final summer at Camp Sweeney stood in front of everyone to share what camp had meant to them, the friendships they had built, and the impact Camp Sweeney had on their lives.
As a younger camper living in Bonner Cabin, and later Leonard Cabin, I remember sitting in chapel listening to those senior speeches. The seniors seemed so much older than me, and I remember thinking that my day to stand in front of camp was still many, many years away.
But somehow…
It came in the blink of an eye.
Before I knew it, I was standing where those seniors once stood, giving my own senior speech to the camp that had shaped so much of my childhood.
Looking back now, that moment means even more to me. It wasn’t just about giving a speech. It marked the end of thirteen unforgettable summers and gave me the opportunity to thank Camp Sweeney for everything it had given me.
Every time I look back at my chapel photos, I’m reminded that Camp Sweeney wasn’t just a place I went every summer.
It was where I grew up.
Then there was Fight Song Wednesday.
Music was a huge part of camp, and even today, certain songs instantly take me back to those Texas summers.
One of my favorite songs was “1985” by Bowling for Soup. Every time it played, I couldn’t help but sing and dance. More often than not, I was wearing one of my LSU sweatshirts, proudly representing Louisiana.
My flightpattern buddy, Tayler, was a huge Texas fan, so whenever I’d start dancing and singing in my LSU sweatshirt, she’d just laugh and give me a big thumbs-down. It became one of our little inside jokes that still makes me smile today.
Looking back, it wasn’t really about football.
It was about friendship.
Those little moments are the ones that have stayed with me the longest.
The Nights We Never Wanted to End
Some of my favorite memories happened after the sun went down.
Throughout the summer, Camp Sweeney hosted themed dances, and every one of them was different. We looked forward to getting dressed up, dancing with our friends, laughing until our stomachs hurt, and just enjoying being kids.
Of course, one of the best parts of the dances wasn’t just the music—it was the late-night sweet treats afterward. There was something special about ending the evening with a dessert while hanging out with your friends.
Another favorite tradition was campfire night.
As the sun went down, we’d gather around the campfire while the Sweeney Five band played. We’d sing along, dance together, clap to the music, and simply enjoy being surrounded by our camp family.
Even now, when I think back to Camp Sweeney, I can still picture the glow of the fire, hear everyone singing together, and remember what it felt like to be surrounded by people who understood exactly what life with Type 1 diabetes was like.
Learning for Life
Camp Sweeney wasn’t just where I made memories.
It was where I learned to take care of myself.
Each week, we attended three medical lectures designed specifically for our age groups. Campers ranged from five or six years old all the way through high school graduates, so the lessons grew with us each summer.
We learned everything from carbohydrate counting and blood sugar management to exercise, sick-day care, and how to solve everyday challenges that come with Type 1 diabetes.
Looking back, those lectures never felt like school.
They were practical, interactive, and gave me confidence every single summer.
As a child, I didn’t fully appreciate how much those lessons were shaping me.
Today, as a registered nurse working toward becoming a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist, I can clearly see just how much Camp Sweeney influenced my life.
Where Friendship Begins and Never Ends
One of the hardest parts of every summer was the last day.
Except…
We never really said goodbye.
We always said,
“See you later.“
Some of my camp friends I talked to throughout the year.
Others I wouldn’t see again until opening day the following summer.
But somehow, it never mattered.
The moment we walked back into the SAC, it was like no time had passed. We picked up right where we left off.
That saying proved to be true long after my years as a camper came to an end.
In 2016, Camp Sweeney held a reunion, and it felt like stepping back in time. People I hadn’t seen in years were there, yet the moment we saw one another, it was as if we had never been apart. We laughed, hugged, shared stories about where life had taken us, and picked up right where we left off.
That’s the special thing about Camp Sweeney.
Time may pass. We grow up, start careers, get married, and even begin raising families of our own.
But the friendships we built there never fade.
Today, one of my favorite things is seeing many of those same campers bringing their own children to Camp Sweeney. Watching the next generation experience the same traditions, make lifelong friendships, and create memories of their own is incredibly special. It reminds me that Camp Sweeney isn’t just a place—it’s a legacy that continues from one generation to the next.
Camp Sweeney’s motto has always been:
“Where friendship begins and never ends.”
After attending thirteen summers, returning for the reunion, and watching the next generation walk through those same gates, I can honestly say I’ve never heard a truer motto.
Thank You, Dr. Ernie
Before I finish this story, there’s one person I simply have to thank.
Dr. Ernie Fernandez first joined the medical staff at Camp Sweeney in 1985 and has served as the camp’s director since 1991. For decades, he has dedicated his life to creating a place where children with Type 1 diabetes can learn, grow, gain confidence, and simply enjoy being kids.
Anyone who has attended Camp Sweeney knows how deeply he cares about every camper. He always wanted the very best for us and genuinely looked forward to seeing us each summer. His passion for Camp Sweeney and for children living with Type 1 diabetes is evident in everything he does.
One memory that has always stayed with me happened at the Camp Sweeney reunion in 2016.
It had been two years since my last summer at camp, yet when I saw Dr. Ernie, he remembered both me and my brother, Martin. Not just our names, but details about us.
That meant more than he’ll probably ever know.
It reminded me that Camp Sweeney has never been just another summer camp.
It’s a family.
So, thank you, Dr. Ernie, for dedicating so much of your life to Camp Sweeney and for creating a place where thousands of children with Type 1 diabetes have felt understood, encouraged, supported, and loved.
Because of you, generations of campers—including me—have left Camp Sweeney with more confidence, greater independence, lifelong friendships, and memories that will last forever.
Why I Recommend Camp Sweeney
Because of everything Camp Sweeney gave me, I recommend it to every parent of a child with Type 1 diabetes.
It gave me confidence.
It taught me independence.
It introduced me to lifelong friends.
Most importantly, it showed me that I was never alone.
Looking back now, I realize Camp Sweeney helped shape the person I am today.
These days, one of my favorite things is seeing the campers I grew up with bringing their own children to Camp Sweeney.
Watching the next generation walk through those same gates, make new friendships, and create memories of their own is incredibly special.
If I’m being honest, there’s a part of me that wishes I could go back.
I’d love to be that excited camper counting down the days until opening day… running into the SAC to find my friends… singing around the campfire with the Sweeney Five… dancing at the themed dances… laughing during Chicken Strip Night… and making memories that would last a lifetime.
But while I can’t go back and be a camper again, I’m incredibly grateful that those thirteen summers will always be part of who I am.
If you had asked me as a child what my favorite part of every year was, my answer would have been simple:
Going back to Camp Sweeney.
The first night I cried because I missed my parents.
Three weeks later, I cried because I didn’t want to leave.
That alone tells you everything you need to know about what Camp Sweeney meant to me.
Thank you, Dr. Ernie.
Thank you to every counselor, nurse, physician, staff member, volunteer, and friend who made those thirteen summers unforgettable.
And thank you, Camp Sweeney…
For giving me confidence.
For giving me lifelong friendships.
For giving me a place where I never felt alone.
You’ll always be my second home.
Because Camp Sweeney truly is…
“Where friendship begins and never ends.”
Harriet’s Diabetes Travel Notes
Location: Camp Sweeney – Gainesville, Texas
Years Attended: 13 summers (beginning in 2006)
Brother’s Attendance: 11 summers
Favorite Memories:
- Producing the radio show with Chad.
- Learning photography from Bob Cannon.
- Chicken Strip Night.
- Fight Song Wednesday.
- Themed dances and late-night sweet treats.
- Campfires with the Sweeney Five.
- Lake Deeley, the big slide, swimming, and fishing.
- Seeing lifelong friends every summer.
My Biggest Takeaway:
Camp Sweeney didn’t just teach me how to live with Type 1 diabetes—it taught me how to live confidently. It gave me lifelong friendships, independence, and a community that continues to feel like family. If you’re considering diabetes camp for your child, I can’t recommend it enough. It shaped my childhood and helped shape the person I am today.
If you’re the parent of a child living with Type 1 diabetes, or if you’re looking for a place where your child can build confidence, gain independence, and make lifelong friendships, I can’t recommend Camp Sweeney enough. It changed my life, and I hope it has the opportunity to change yours too.
Learn more about Camp Sweeney here: https://campsweeney.org/