Bearskin Meadow Camp was originally founded by two pioneering doctors from UCSF in 1938. The camp owned and run by the Diabetic Youth Foundation is located at an elevation of 6,000 FT in Kings Canyon National Park where it is exposed to exceptionally harsh alpine winters and hot summers.

By the year 2000, most of the buildings at the camp were badly in need of replacement and upgrading to keep up with changes in diabetes management as well as meet health standards.

Leading the master planning effort, JRDV helped establish a consensus-driven process including many constituencies, past and present, young and old, users and staff. Each of the improvements was seen as not just construction – but an opportunity to create sociable places for the community.

Renovation and new construction projects include a new medical facility, program office, bathroom buildings, and renovation of dining hall and construction of new sleeping decks. When the renovation of Bearskin Meadow Camp is complete, it will allow DYF to expand its services and reach new communities with its programs.

Here is a link to a pdf version of the book Miracle Forest by Maria Wolf, published in 2005. This book is the definitive history of two pioneering women doctors who founded the camp high in the California Sierras in 1938. The book also presents a revealing window into the treatment of Type 1 Diabetes in the middle of the 20th century.

Read the pdf book:
Miracle Forest by Maria Wolf