Mason Hemmila first showed up at Camp UPeninsulin as a nine-year-old camper in 2011.
Fifteen years later, he's a cabin counselor checking blood sugars alongside the medical staff and teaching kids the management tricks he learned growing up with Type 1 diabetes on the peninsula.
"You go from being one of 100 kids to suddenly you're one of the 40 there and you all have the same thing," Hemmila told WBUP/WJMN on Thursday, Aug. 6. He said passing along the tips and tricks he's learned over more than a dozen years with the disease feels good.
The weeklong overnight camp, now in its 23rd year, runs Aug. 3 through Saturday, Aug. 8, at the Clear Lake Education Center in Hiawatha Township, Schoolcraft County. It draws children ages 9 to 17 from across the Upper Peninsula for swimming, games, crafts and learning experiences, all under round-the-clock medical supervision.
A normal camp, safely
Dr. Daniel Shumer, a pediatric endocrinologist who serves as medical director, said the goal is a traditional summer camp experience where diabetes management happens in the background. Medical staff check every camper's blood sugar at midnight, 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. if needed, monitor continuous glucose monitors and treat low blood sugars overnight. During meals, staff ensure insulin is given appropriately.
Program director Robb Strieter coordinates meals with the kitchen based on what activities come next. Higher-carb meals precede active sessions; lighter meals come before crafts or downtime. Strieter said campers themselves help shape the schedule, calling it "a camp that's built by the campers."
Community picks up the tab
The registration fee is $20, but no child is turned away for inability to pay. Administrative director Chris Alderton said everything at camp, from equipment to medical supplies, is donated by community families, vendors and medical supply companies.
That donor network extends beyond the campsite.
A Swim Teal Lake open-water event in Negaunee in July 2026 raised proceeds for Camp UPeninsulin, one example of the community fundraising that keeps fees near zero.
Campers keep coming back
Aria Clements, attending her fourth year, said she values learning how other kids manage the same condition. Natasha Hutter, in her third year, recalled being nervous her first session but making friends immediately.
In 2024, 39 children attended the camp, according to Upper Michigan's Source. Many return as junior counselors after turning 16, continuing the cycle Hemmila represents.
Families interested in future sessions or making a donation can visit campupeninsulin.com or the camp's Facebook page. The 2026 session wraps up Saturday, Aug. 8.
Upcoming community events
- Saturday, Aug. 8: Camp UPeninsulin 2026 session closing day, Clear Lake Education Center, Hiawatha Township
- Visit campupeninsulin.com for information on 2027 registration when announced
