Camp Hertko Hollow

Volunteer

Opportunities

Volunteering at Camp Hertko Hollow

At Camp Hertko Hollow, we’re dedicated to helping children with Type 1 diabetes learn how to live a normal, active, and confident life. Our camp experience wouldn’t be possible without the incredible volunteers who give their time, energy, and compassion to our campers each summer.

Volunteering at Hertko Hollow isn’t just meaningful—it’s life-changing. 💙

Why Volunteer?

Our volunteer staff make a lasting impact on campers by creating a safe, fun, and supportive environment where kids can learn diabetes management skills while enjoying all the classic camp activities.

As a volunteer, you’ll:

  • Help campers build confidence and independence with diabetes care

  • Be part of an unforgettable community

  • Learn hands-on diabetes management alongside experienced medical professionals

  • Experience the joy of making a real difference—every single day

We are always seeking enthusiastic volunteers from a variety of backgrounds, including:

  • Physicians

  • Nurses

  • Pharmacists

  • Dietitians

  • Cabin Leaders

  • Medical and health professional students

Many healthcare students love the opportunity to learn about diabetes firsthand by living in a cabin with campers and participating in daily activities, monitoring, and support.

Training & Screening

Because the safety and well-being of our campers comes first, all volunteers are required to complete:

  • Online training sessions on working with children, camper safety, diabetes education, and diabetes management

  • In-person orientation (June 20-21, 2026)
  • Annual background checks

  • An intensive interview process to ensure every volunteer meets our high standards

We put great care into selecting and preparing our staff—because our campers deserve the best.

New This Year: Improved Application & Registration (Views)

We’re excited to introduce our new volunteer application system: Views! This updated platform makes applying and registering easier than ever while streamlining all of our records. 

Even better: Staff will have the opportunity to connect their CGM to our dashboard through the registration system, helping our team support campers more efficiently and keeping care as seamless as possible.

 

Steps to start Application to volunteer for CHH 2026.

  1. Click the Volunteer Application Link on the CHH website
  2. Create or login to your Views Account
  3. Select the 2026 CHH Summer Volunteer Application Program
  4. Add or select participant (your name)
  5. Connect CGM to Views or continue without connecting CGM
  6. Complete the Application Form. It has 9 total fields and will save as you complete the form.
  7. Once you have completed the application you will receive a confirmation email from Views and will be contacted by the Camp Hertko Hollow Staff to begin the next steps in the application process.

Minimum Qualifications

  • Ability to work with children
  • Ability to work effectively as a member of a team
  • Minimum of 18 years old
  • Working knowledge of diabetes management
  • Have a positive attitude

Responsibilities

  • Know each camper assigned to your unit and help him/her get the most from the camp
  • Offer emotional support and guidance
  • Participate actively in the camp program and schedule
  • Work with medical staff to ensure the health and appropriate diabetes management of campers is provided
  • Relay any medical concerns, including accidents and low blood sugars IMMEDIATELY to medical staff
  • Ensure assigned campers arrive on time at scheduled activities and facilitate their active participation
  • Be a positive role model for cabin campers, particularly with diabetes control

Specific duties

  • Work closely with Y-Leader who is responsible for discipline and all other non- diabetes situations
  • Carry cabin back pack and restock as needed
  • Pick up snacks after lunch and dispense during afternoon
  • Make sure there are two CHH Staff members with campers at all times
  • Treat hypoglycemia episodes and document all blood sugars in logbook
  • Document new awards (Bottom buster, ) on award sheet in log book
  • Take advantage of “teachable moments” with campers
  • Encourage camaraderie and team building among campers
  • Communicate with CHH Circle Leader about concerns and suggestions
  • Supervise campers at meals and help with carb counting, manners, etc
  • Make sure campers receive medications as prescribed
  • Have campers write Thank You letters to sponsors
  • Be responsible and make decisions relating to diabetes care within the cabin
  • Group management (testing, recording blood sugars in log book or IPAD, arrival at dining hall, )
  • Participate enthusiastically in all camp activities especially D.I.G program (education curriculum)
  • Address any problem situations with appropriate staff.
  • The second CHH Counselor in the cabin will assist the Lead CHH Counselor with all of the above duties, plus assume the leadership role if needed. Medical field students also participate in cabin group

Responsible to Program Director

Minimum Qualifications

  • Must have the qualifications and ability to prescribe insulin
  • Desire and ability to work with children outdoors in a camp
  • Experience working with children is a
  • Good character, integrity and
  • Ability to be a positive member of a staff
  • Commitment to attend the entire week of
  • Commitment to attend required trainings and

Responsibilities

  • Review daily blood glucose records with clinicians, offering counsel and advice regarding the diabetes management of individual campers
  • Available for consultation about diabetes management throughout the day
  • Make night rounds (midnight until complete) according to a rotation schedule of duty
  • Review camper log books with clinicians on a daily and on an as needed basis
  • Document above review in camper BG logbook
  • Recommend therapy changes to better manage camper BG levels
  • Communicate with Medical Director for issues related to camper’s diabetes, other medical conditions, behavior,
  • Adhere to Camp Hertko Hollow protocols and procedures
  • Evaluate the condition of campers with severe, acute complications of diabetes
  • Determine medical management of campers with severe, acute diabetes-related complications
  • Determine need for off-site medical care of camper with severe diabetes management needs

Specific duties

  • Participates in diabetes education for benefit of campers, as
  • Attends daily staff meeting(s).
  • Available during the day and night (may be in rotation with other senior professionals) to address diabetes management issues that require an advanced education and skill
  • Assists with carbohydrate counting when
  • Promotes camper education in diabetes management
  • Promotes healthy

Responsible to Medical Director

Minimum Qualifications

  • Registered Nurse or LPN licensed in Iowa (CDE desirable)
  • Awareness of diabetes management and education strategies
  • Demonstrated ability to work with children
  • Awareness of potential health and safety issues and ways to control them in the camp environment
  • Readiness and ability to adapt to camp environment
  • Demonstrated ability to work cooperatively as a team member
  • Willingness to reside on campsite for entire camp period or as arranged with Camp Director

Responsibilities

  • Comply with camp medical procedures
  • Assist with camper blood testing, insulin administration, dosage adjustment, and medical needs
  • Consults with Nursing Director regularly during camp season
  • Assist with camper and staff health emergencies including accidents, high and low blood sugars
  • At the direction of the Nursing Director assists with the care of special needs campers
  • Report all incidents and accidents immediately to the Medical Director, and cooperate in the completion of required follow-up
  • Other duties as assigned by the Nursing Director

Specific duties

  • During Registration place camper’s insulin in labeled baggie with cabin
  • Live in a cabin with campers, being an integral part of the daily activities
  • Provide first aid and attend to any emergencies
  • Do night rounds and Health Lodge Duty and pump changes as assigned
  • Assist with Diabetes Education sessions as assigned
  • Follow assigned schedule to be “on duty’ at pool, canoes, evening programs and other strategic areas with bug juice, meter and supplies
  • Sign-up for at least one shift in the Health Lodge per day, find a replacement for your shift if unable to fulfill it (notify Nursing Coordinator) of
  • Complete assigned duties in Health Lodge

Responsible to Nursing Coordinator

Minimum Qualifications

  • Registered Dietician
  • Readiness and ability to adapt to camp work environment
  • Knowledgeable about diabetes as it relates to dietary concerns
  • Knowledge of kitchen sanitary/safety requirements and procedures
  • Demonstrated staff management abilities
  • Demonstrated ability to work cooperatively as a team member

Responsibilities

  • Responsible for following and implementing overall nutritional program for Camp Hertko Hollow
  • Prepare salad bar menu with proper nutritional standards and obtain accurate carbohydrate values
  • Coordinate menu changes as necessary during camp session
  • Review camper applications prior to camp sessions and assign meal plans
  • Supervise and evaluate the other dietitians & students
  • Train the staff during Staff Orientation in areas of food service procedures and nutrition
  • Meet with parents during registration to determine appropriate nutrition patterns for all campers and answer questions, make changes as
  • Assign persons to prepare specialty foods for gluten free diets and other
  • Assist campers and counselors to optimize nutrition
  • Teach nutrition topics during DIG using developmentally appropriate principals of teaching and
  • Coordinate the daily menu with the Y-Camp Head Cook for all food preparation, make a list of additional items and snacks for CHH to purchase through the Camp Director
  • Oversee distribution of snacks during the day and preparation and serving of evening snack
  • Assist counselors, kitchen staff and counselors with food plans for all cookouts, NUTS night and special occasions
  • Attend daily CHH Staff meetings, making announcements as needed
  • Responsible for posting of weekly menu in all camper cabins and dining room
  • Coordinate schedule and distribution of any extra evening snacks with Program Director & Medical Director
  • Assist Y-camp kitchen staff with meals and meeting individual camper’s dietary needs and/or restrictions due to medical conditions or allergies
  • Responsible for ACA standards in food service areas
  • Promote optimal sanitation and safety conditions in the kitchen, dining room, storage areas at all times
  • Other duties as assigned

Responsible to Program Director

Minimum Qualifications

  • Experience in diabetes management and working in a kitchen environment
  • Demonstrated ability to work with children
  • Readiness and ability to adapt to camp environment
  • Demonstrated ability to work cooperatively as a team member
  • Willingness to reside on campsite for entire camp period

Responsibilities

  • May live in a cabin with campers and being an integral part of the daily activities
  • During mealtimes circulate in dining room to assist campers with carb counting
  • Food Service Duty as assigned, determining portion sizes, posting carbs on white boards, preparing gluten free foods,
  • Help to prepare and distribute snacks to counselors for backpacks
  • Help teach or assist with Diabetes Education sessions as assigned
  • Assist Dietary Coordinator with nutrition and food service responsibilities

Responsible to Dietary Coordinator


We welcome students from various professions to join our staff at camp! Students will function as a cabin leader while at camp and report to their appropriate coordinator based on their education and training. 

Pharmacy Student

Function as a cabin leader and fulfill pharmacy responsibilities that are appropriate for achieved level of training under supervision of a Registered Pharmacist.

Dietary Student

Function as a cabin leader and preform dietitian duties that are appropriate for achieved level of training and under supervision of a Registered Dietitian. View both job descriptions.

Responsible to Dietary Coordinator

Education and Psychosocial Students

Function as a cabin leader and preform education duties that are appropriate for achieved level of training and under supervision of the Education Director. 

Responsible to Education Director.

Nursing Students

Function as a cabin leader; provide nursing duties that are appropriate for achieved level of training and under supervision of a licensed nurse. View both job descriptions.

Responsible to Nursing Coordinator