Diabetes Canada’s Camp Kakhamela hosts overnight summer and leadership programs for children and youth living with type 1 diabetes at YMCA Camp Elphinstone, 1760 YMCA Road, Gibsons area, British Columbia V0N 1V6. This is the physical camp venue; Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal is a transport meeting point. The information below is historical 2026 programming. For registration and individual support needs, contact camps@diabetes.ca or 1-800-226-8464.
The 2026 summer sessions were for ages 7–15: Week 1, June 28–July 3; and Week 2, July 5–10. Campers enjoy activities such as canoeing, sailing, swimming, paddleboarding, fishing, archery, climbing, sports, crafts, drama, hiking and outdoor living skills. The program brings campers together with other young people and adult role models living with type 1 diabetes, with a dedicated medical team supporting camp life.
Both 2026 Leadership Development programs ran June 28–July 10. LDP 1 was for youth who had turned 16 prior to June 30, 2026; LDP 2 was for youth who had turned 17 prior to June 30, 2026. These exact birthday cutoffs apply. LDP 1 develops communication, conflict resolution, goal setting and introductory group leadership. LDP 2 includes a substantial amount of supervised counsellor shadowing, camper care and activity planning. Leadership participants practise canoeing, swimming, challenge courses, outdoor living skills and creative arts.
The operator’s published 2026 guides ask families to provide enough insulin, pump and glucose-monitoring supplies for the session, with other medications in original containers. Continuous glucose monitoring and open-source automated insulin delivery are welcomed, subject to the camp medical team’s discretion. Looping requires an intake review of settings and a strong participant understanding of the interface. The stated camp policy turns off transmitting functions; SIM cards used in monitoring devices are removed and securely held until departure. Smartphones are otherwise prohibited, with a medical Dexcom-receiver exception requiring follow-up. Discuss device arrangements directly with the team before attendance.
YMCA Camp Elphinstone uses a luggage heat-treatment protocol. Families must separately pack heat-sensitive items in three labelled clear bags: diabetes supplies; other medications; and toiletries or other sensitive items such as cameras. Campers cannot access luggage until processing finishes. The 2026 LDP guide permits direct camp arrival no earlier than 11 am; closing-day pickup is 11 am, with campers remaining after 1 pm transported to Horseshoe Bay with the group. Confirm current travel arrangements with the operator. The linked summer guide retains an old 2025 transport-date table, so the youth session dates above follow the explicitly dated 2026 program page.
D-Camps welcomes participants of different abilities and backgrounds and asks families to discuss accommodation needs with the regional Camp Director. Families must complete registration information thoroughly; the operator states that confidential information in those forms is not a determining factor in acceptance. Support depends in part on the physical host environment.
Official sources: https://www.diabetes.ca/community-and-events/d-camps/summer-camps/camp-kakhamela-british-columbia ; https://www.diabetes.ca/community-and-events/d-camps/leadership-programs/camp-kakhamela-british-columbia ; the linked 2026 Summer Information Guide and 2026 Leadership Program Information Guide; and https://www.diabetes.ca/community-and-events/d-camps/accessibility-at-camp .
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