Alabama Outward Bound School Announces June 2013 Diabetes Challenge Program for Insulin-Dependent Teenagers

FAIRHOPE, Ala.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Alabama Outward Bound School established in 2006 and nationally accredited by the Council on Accreditation in Wilderness and Adventure-Based Therapeutic Outdoor Services, is now accepting applications from insulin-dependent boys and girls age 14-16 for its new Diabetes Challenge Program, June 8-15, 2013. Gary Wald, a pioneer of innovative telemedicine services, a Type 1 diabetic and an Outward Bound alumnus, is partnering with the not-for-profit organization to create a program that challenges participant’s stamina and resourcefulness and teaches glucose management strategies in a wilderness environment.

“This program is designed to challenge and educate”

“This program is designed to challenge and educate,” explains Lynn Yonge, MD, executive director and general practitioner with a passion for the wilderness and helping young people. “It’s an eight day, seven night adventure at the Alabama Outward Bound School, led by Patrick Mertes, a certified Wilderness First Responder and a Type 1 diabetic.”

Since its inception over six years ago, the Alabama basecamp has served over 700 students on canoe, back packing and sea kayaking expeditions that stress experiential learning to discover innate abilities and gain self-confidence.

Wald says, “This modestly priced program is intended to teach glucose control in a challenging, wilderness environment, and educate participants on how to bring this learning -- about themselves and their disease -- back to their everyday school and family environments.”

By completing this challenge with other diabetics, participants have an opportunity to share glucose management strategies and successes, and more openly discuss their condition and how it affects their lives.

“It’s learning that will be valuable for a lifetime,” says Wald, who survived his Outward Bound adventure years ago using multiple daily injections and lots of glucose tabs. “It was the most memorable and educational experience of my life. From the moment I finished, I knew that any reasonably fit diabetic, who loves the outdoors and loves a challenge, would benefit from this experience. Kids should sign up now.”

Visit www.alabamaoutwardboundschool.org/diabeteschallenge for more information. To enroll, call 251.990.0323, X2432.

About Alabama Outward Bound

Established in 2006 in Fairhope, Alabama. One of 12 United States based Outward Bound schools; AOBS offers courses with consistently high levels of learning, safety and results. www.alabamaoutwardboundschool.org.