Teaching the Lions' diabetic summer camp: The science of life

CHED 369

Lincing J. Hernandez, bbcsc@fiu.edu1, Nick A. Bedoya, fyregrunt@hotmail.com1, Maria Castello, Castello.Camila@gmail.com2, Richild A. Currie1, Jessalyn Machado, Cukitura05@cs.com3, Angela Castello, Angela.Castello@fiu.edu3, Nicole Salazar, Nicole.Salazar@fiu.edu3, Mayra Exposito, exposito@fiu.edu1, and Milagros Delgado, delgadom@fiu.edu1. (1) Chemistry Department, Florida International University, Biscayne Bay Campus Science Club, 3000 NE 151 Street, North Miami, FL 33181, (2) Chemistry, Florida International University Biscayne Bay Campus, 3000 N.E. 151 ave, North Miami, FL 33180, (3) Chemistry Department, Florida International University, Biscayne Bay Campus, Science Club, AC II Room 340, North Miami, FL 33199
The Florida International University Student Affiliate Chapter of the ACS “Biscayne Bay Campus Science Club” does a lot of community activities but the one event that made a significant difference in many of our lives was the Lions' Diabetic Summer Camp Science Day. All the children at this sleep-away camp are diabetic and insulin-dependent. Here they are given an opportunity to spend time with other diabetic children and the chance to learn how to care for oneself properly. Thus we planned one main activity to support this objective and after a lot of hard work our team developed an experiment called the “Digestion of Carbohydrates in Your Mouth”. The experiment was intended to teach the children a little about the science of diabetes and how complex sugars break down to simpler forms. We explained that in high quantities, these sugars are potentially dangerous to diabetics because of their bodies' inability to metabolize them completely. We arrived at the South Miami campsite not knowing what to expect, but left feeling that it was one of our most rewarding experiences. The children were so grateful they did not want us to leave, so we promised to return. Since the initiation of our club four years ago we have gone to visit the camp two times every year and made it an annual event.