Our Story

Nejeda’s story began in 1958, when a group of insightful parents (the New Jersey Diabetes League) partnered with caring health professionals (the New Jersey Diabetes Association) to create a safe place for their children and patients to come together, have fun, and at the same time, develop their diabetes management skills.

The new camp was called Camp Nejeda, an acronym for NEw JErsey Diabetes Association. A few years later, when it came time to purchase the land where the camp is still located, the partnership evolved into the Camp Nejeda Foundation.

Camp Nejeda has grown from a “clinic in the woods” serving 20 children its first summer to a highly respected and specialized camp experience for children with diabetes serving nearly 500 campers and families each year.

Founders

Today, Camp Nejeda is the tri-state region’s only full-season residential camp to exclusively serve campers with type 1 diabetes and their families. As one of just a handful in the U.S. to own its facilities, Camp Nejeda is able to offer not only a full summer season of residential diabetes camping but other programs throughout the year. 

Camp Nejeda continues to be operated by the Camp Nejeda Foundation, Inc., an independent nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization whose volunteer Board of Trustees are committed to helping children with type 1 diabetes live healthier, happier lives. The Camp Nejeda Foundation is active in the Diabetes Education and Camping Association, an organization with members from across the U.S., Canada, and internationally. Camp Nejeda is accredited by the American Camp Association, which evaluates over 300 standards for health, safety, and program quality, and is fully licensed by the New Jersey Department of Health.