What Camp Seale Harris does

Camp Seale Harris is a regional 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization operating medically supervised camp programs and community education services for children and teens with Type 1 diabetes across Alabama and Northwest Florida. Founded in 1949 by Dr. and Mrs. Samuel Eichold in Mobile, Alabama as the first diabetes camp in the South and named for endocrinologist Dr. Seale Harris, the program is now operated by Southeastern Diabetes Education Services (SDES). It is the only charitable organization in its region whose primary mission is direct residential, day, and local programming for children with diabetes, and serves more than 600 children and teens annually across nine program locations.

The product portfolio is organized into four layers: overnight camps (Senior Camp, Junior Camp, Coastal Camp, and Teen Leadership Retreat), day camps in five Alabama cities (Dothan, Huntsville, Tuscaloosa, Birmingham, Mobile), family camp weekends (Spring, Summer, Fall), and year-round community programming including Diabetes WALK fundraising events, CSH1Days community gatherings, and a competitive Counselor-in-Training leadership pipeline. Programs are delivered at partnered venues including Camp ASCCA, Camp Grace, YMCA Camp Chandler, Camp Coleman, and Camp Tuscoba Lake. Medically supervised by teams led by licensed pediatric diabetes specialty physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and certified diabetes educators — supported by more than 250 volunteers annually, many of whom are T1D adults — programs provide meals, snacks, and most diabetes supplies, with an automatic partial scholarship reducing every published fee and additional need-based aid ensuring no child is turned away.

The business model is a hybrid of subsidized fee-for-service and charitable donations. Published fees range from $175 (day camp) to $800 (overnight camp) against actual per-child costs of $500-$1,450, with the gap covered by tax-deductible donations, Diabetes WALK fundraising, and corporate/foundation support. There is no venture capital or private equity involvement; the organization is independently funded through philanthropy and operates from a small Birmingham headquarters with a paid staff of fewer than 10 people. It is accredited by the American Camp Association (meeting up to 300 standards), a founding member of the Diabetes Education and Camping Association, and holds a GuideStar Platinum Seal of Transparency.

Name

Camp Seale Harris

Legal name

Southeastern Diabetes Education Services

Website

https://campsealeharris.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1949

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Camp Seale Harris, operated by Southeastern Diabetes Education Services, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing medically supervised overnight camps, day camps, family programs, and community events for more than 600 children and teens with Type 1 diabetes across Alabama and Northwest Florida.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pediatric Diabetes Camp & Education Services

NAICS

Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Multi-Sport Camps (General Athletics, Summer Camps) (MPAKAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Multi-Activity Enrichment Camps (Academic + Arts + Sports) (EDAMALAA)

Keywords

• Diabetes camp programs
• Type 1 diabetes education
• Youth medical camp
• Family camp weekends
• Diabetes community events

Headquarters

HQ city

Birmingham

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Camp Registration Fees: Fee-based programs including overnight camps ($250-$800), day camps ($175), and family camps ($425). Scholarships automatically applied to reduce costs from actual $1450 per session to published fees.
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Tax-deductible donations to scholarship fund enable financial aid for families. No child turned away due to financial need.
3. Diabetes Walk Fundraising: Family-friendly walk/run events raising awareness and funds for camp fees and scholarships. Participants fundraise toward their own or sponsored children's camp fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Camp Seale Harris operates medically-supervised overnight, day, and family camp programs for children and teens with Type 1 diabetes across Alabama and Northwest Florida. Programs combine traditional camp activities (swimming, canoeing, zip line, archery, crafts) with 24/7 diabetes care provided by licensed pediatric diabetes specialty physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and certified diabetes educators, and include all meals, snacks, and most diabetes supplies. The portfolio comprises Senior Camp, Junior Camp, Coastal Camp, Teen Leadership Retreat, multi-city Day Camps, Family Camp weekends, Counselor-in-Training (CIT), Diabetes WALK fundraising events, and CSH1Day community events, serving 600+ youth annually.

Product overview

Camp Seale Harris is a comprehensive diabetes camp and education services organization operated by Southeastern Diabetes Education Services (SDES), a 501c3 nonprofit. The portfolio consists primarily of medically-supervised overnight camps (Senior Camp, Junior Camp, Coastal Camp, Teen Leadership Retreat), day camps in five Alabama cities (Dothan, Huntsville, Tuscaloosa, Birmingham, Mobile), family camp weekends (Spring, Summer, Fall), the Counselor-in-Training leadership program, Diabetes WALK fundraising events, and CSH1Days community programs. A Scholarship Fund ensures financial accessibility. Programs serve over 600 children and teens annually with Type 1 diabetes across Alabama and Northwest Florida, combining diabetes education with traditional camp activities in a medically-supervised environment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Senior Camp Week-long overnight camp for teens ages 12-18 with Type 1 diabetes featuring 24/7 medical supervision, diabetes management education, and traditional camp activities including swimming, tubing, waterslides, crafts, fishing, zip line, and sports/games. All meals, snacks, and most diabetes supplies (including insulin) are provided. Published fee $800 per camper (reduced from actual $1,450 cost via automatic scholarship).
• Junior Camp Week-long overnight camp for children ages 6-11 with Type 1 diabetes featuring supervised diabetes care, medical staffing, and traditional camp activities including swimming, tubing, waterslides, crafts, fishing, zip line, and sports/games. All meals, snacks, and most diabetes supplies (including insulin) are provided. Published fee $800 per camper (reduced from actual $1,450 cost via automatic scholarship).
• Coastal Camp Week-long overnight camp held at Camp Grace in Mobile, Alabama for children and teens ages 10-18 with Type 1 diabetes. Features activities including horseback riding, high ropes, swimming, canoeing, fishing, archery, games, and arts/crafts. Bus transportation available from Pensacola. Published fee $500 per camper. All meals, snacks, and most diabetes supplies provided.
• Teen Leadership Retreat Four-day leadership development program for teens in grades 9-12 held at YMCA Camp Chandler in Wetumpka, AL. Focuses on developing teamwork, independence, self-confidence, leadership skills, and includes activities such as canoeing, archery, and sports/games. Published fee $250 per participant; includes meals, snacks, and most diabetes supplies.
• Day Camps (Birmingham, Dothan, Huntsville, Tuscaloosa, Mobile) One-week day camps held in five Alabama locations (Birmingham, Dothan, Huntsville, Tuscaloosa, Mobile) providing local programming for children with Type 1 diabetes and their siblings/friends. Activities include swimming, sports, games, and crafts. Bus transportation available in Mobile and Birmingham. Ages 5-15 (varies by location). Published fee $175 per camper; includes lunch, snacks, and most diabetes supplies.
• Family Camps (Spring, Summer, Fall Weekends) Family weekend camps (Spring Mobile, Summer/Fall Jacksons' Gap) for families of children ages 0-18 with Type 1 diabetes. Offer quality education time with medical professionals and seasonal recreation activities including boating, zip lining, crafts, bonfire, swimming, and family games. Each family has their own cabin or lodge room. Published fee $425 per family; all meals, snacks, and most diabetes supplies provided.
• Counselor-in-Training (CIT) Program Leadership development program preparing individuals ages 16-18 (all living with Type 1 diabetes) for counselor roles. Two options: a two-week program at Camp ASCCA (during Senior and Junior weeks) or a one-week program in Mobile (during Coastal Camp). Selected through competitive application process.
• Diabetes WALK Family-friendly Walk/Run events held in multiple cities (Gulf Coast, Dothan, Huntsville, Birmingham, Auburn) connecting local friends living with diabetes, raising awareness of Type 1 diabetes, and raising funds toward camp fees and scholarships. Registration is free; participants fundraise toward their own or sponsored children's camp fees.
• CSH1Days (Community Programs) Free community events throughout Alabama and Northwest Florida providing opportunities for camp families and friends to connect, including T1D Family Parties with activities like bowling and arcade entertainment.
• Scholarship Fund Financial aid program ensuring every child with Type 1 diabetes can attend camp regardless of financial need. Includes automatic 'Living With Diabetes' Partial Scholarship applied to all published fees, income-based Financial Need Scholarships, payment plans, employer scholarships, and sponsor request opportunities. Funded by tax-deductible charitable donations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 600 children and teens served annually
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Southeastern Diabetes Education Services (SDES)coreOthers · 1 January 1949SDES is the parent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates Camp Seale Harris. Founded in 1949 by Dr. Samuel Eichold in Mobile, AL. SDES-Camp Seale Harris is the only charitable organization in Alabama and Northwest Florida whose primary purpose is providing direct programs for children with diabetes.
• Camp ASCCA Easter SealscoreOthersCamp ASCCA (Easter Seals) on north Lake Martin in Jackson's Gap, AL serves as primary location for Senior Camp, Junior Camp, Summer Family Weekend, and Fall Family Weekend programs.
• Camp GracecoreOthersCamp Grace in Mobile, AL serves as location for Coastal Camp Seale Harris and Spring Family Weekend programs.
• Eastgate Park (Ashford, AL)minorOthersDay camp venue for Dothan Day Camp program.
• Asbury Church (Madison, AL)minorOthersDay camp venue for Huntsville Day Camp program.
• Camp Tuscoba Lake (Northport, AL)minorOthersDay camp venue for Tuscaloosa Day Camp program.
• Camp Coleman (Trussville, AL)minorOthersCamp Coleman at 4010 Camp Coleman Rd, Trussville, AL serves as venue for Birmingham Day Camp. Bus transportation available from Samford University.
• YMCA Camp ChandlerminorOthersYMCA Camp Chandler in Wetumpka, AL serves as location for Teen Leadership Retreat.
• Stars and Strikes Family Entertainment CenterminorOthersBowling alley venue hosting Huntsville T1D Family Party events.
• Darkspire, Inc.minorOthersWebsite designed and developed in the USA by Darkspire, Inc.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Camp Winona: Diabetes summer camp operated as part of the Diabetes Education and Camping Association network (of which Camp Seale Harris is a founding member). Directly comparable overnight diabetes-camp model for youth.
• Camp Kudzu: Georgia-based nonprofit operating overnight and day camps specifically for children and teens with Type 1 diabetes. Most direct comparable in business model, mission, and medical-supervision approach, serving an adjacent Southeast geography.
• Florida Camp for Children and Youth with Diabetes: Nonprofit offering residential diabetes camps for children in Florida. Closely comparable program structure (overnight camps, medical staff, T1D-only participants) with overlapping regional reach in Northwest Florida.

Broad incumbents

• JDRF (Breakthrough T1D): Leading global Type 1 diabetes research and advocacy organization. Not a direct camp operator but the dominant fundraising competitor in the T1D nonprofit space, explicitly noted as a non-partner to Camp Seale Harris.
• SeriousFun Children's Network: Network of medically-supervised camps serving children with serious illnesses. Comparable camp-organization model and ACA-accreditation standards, though not diabetes-specific.
• ADA (American Diabetes Association) - Diabetes Camps: National diabetes advocacy organization that operates day and overnight camps for children with diabetes across multiple states. Larger incumbent with broader mission; competes for donor dollars and program attention nationwide.

Emerging players

• Camp Boggy Creek: Florida-based SeriousFun-affiliated camp serving children with chronic illnesses including diabetes. Comparable medically-supervised residential-camp model in an adjacent Southeast geography.
• Victory Junction: North Carolina-based camp serving children with chronic medical conditions including Type 1 diabetes. Comparable medically-supervised camp format and ACA accreditation; broader condition scope than Camp Seale Harris.

Regional players

• Roundup River Ranch: Colorado-based nonprofit offering year-round medically-supervised camp programs for children with chronic illnesses including T1D. Comparable program portfolio (overnight, day, family programming) outside Camp Seale Harris's Southeast footprint.

Others

• Diabetes Education and Camping Association (DECA): International membership association for diabetes camping organizations, of which Camp Seale Harris is a founding member. Industry association providing peer benchmarking, accreditation standards, and network resources.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CampSealeHarris
• Xx.com/campsealeharris
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/southeastern-diabetes-education-services-camp-seale-harris

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Camp Seale Harris