This week Kitty and Dr. Fallon interview Philip DeRea, Executive Director of Camp Nedjeda, a Diabetic Camp for children and their families. Mr. DeRea is also a type one diabetic.
Philip E. De Rea has been the Executive Director of the Camp Nejeda Foundation, Inc since January 2005. (Camp Nejeda is the regions only residential summer camp serving exclusively children and families affected by type 1 diabetes.) Immediately prior to taking the helm at Camp Nejeda, Philip was the Program Director for New Jersey Audubon Society’s Weis Ecology Center and worked before that at NJAS’s Cape May Bird Observatory.
Philip developed type 1 diabetes in 1994 at age 26. It changed his life, but not his lifestyle. He still prefers outdoors to indoors. He still prefers a hike in the woods to a walk in a mall. An avid birdwatcher and amateur naturalist Philip continues to lead field trips and do programs for NJAS and other nature organizations.
Philip also likes to give presentations about Camp Nejeda, “anytime, anywhere, for as long as they’ll let me talk”.
Photo Above: Mr. Philip DeRea
Founded in 1958, Camp Nejeda has been educating and empowering children with diabetes for over 50 years. Campers enjoy a fun, traditional summer camp experience in a safe environment where diabetes is the norm, not the exception. At the same time they learn diabetes management skills from both their peers and our staff of medical professionals.
Camp Nejeda is administered by the non-profit Camp Nejeda Foundation, Inc, supported by donations, accredited by the American Camping Association, fully licensed by the New Jersey Dept of Health, and an affiliate of the Diabetes Education and Camping Association.
Camp Nejeda welcomes over 400 children and family members to its 72 wooded acres in Stillwater, NJ each summer. The camp has a seven acre lake, archery range, basketball and volleyball courts, low-ropes course, playground, and hiking and biking trails. Along with swimming, boating, arts & crafts, field trips, cookouts, and the rest, campers at Nejeda also learn how to manage their diabetes, make healthy food choices, and most of all, maintain a good attitude. The Foundation offers a one-week session for younger campers, two-week sessions for older campers, and family camps. Campers stay in rustic cabins and dine in a modern dining hall.
Camp Nejeda is the only residential summer camp in New Jersey and neighboring states to serve exclusively children and families affected by diabetes. For more information on Camp Nejeda’s programs click here, contact the Camp Nejeda Foundation at PO Box 156, Stillwater, NJ 07875, e-mail information@campnejeda.org, or call (973) 383-2611.
Photo Above: Children at Camp Nedjeda
