2027 Adventures & Retreats are now OPEN FOR REGISTRATION!
Take on the Adventure of a Lifetime. Make a Difference for the T1D Community!
Join our team of ICD Heroes and turn your next adventure into something bigger! Trekking through rainforests, paddling wild rivers, or exploring the great outdoors – you can experience an unforgettable adventure while fundraising to empower people living with type 1 diabetes.
Become an ICD Hero!
Pay a deposit to reserve your spot and fundraise to help ICD create more opportunities for people with T1D to connect with peers, learn from mentors, build confidence, and discover what’s possible.
Prefer to pay upfront? You can also pay your full registration fee at sign-up. One and done!
Financial assistance through our Empowerment Fund is available for those facing financial barriers to participation.
Your adventure. Your impact. Their possibilities. Are you in?
Family and Youth Retreats. Connect, Explore, and Grow Together!
ICD’s Family and Youth Retreats bring together people living with type 1 diabetes for meaningful experiences filled with learning, adventure, and connection.
Family Retreats give families the opportunity to learn together, build practical diabetes management skills, share experiences, and connect with others who understand the challenges of raising a child with T1D. Most family retreats also include a dedicated youth track, offering teens their own age-appropriate programming, activities, and opportunities to build skills with their peers.
Youth Retreats focus on building independence, self-advocacy, confidence, and friendships. Through hands-on activities, workshops, and adventure, youth develop the skills to navigate life with T1D and connect with peers who just get it.
Whether growing together as a family or discovering independence as a young person, everyone leaves feeling more confident, supported, and connected to the T1D community.
Adventure & Retreat FAQs
ICD offers outdoor adventures and retreat experiences designed to help people living with T1D build confidence, develop real-world diabetes management skills, and connect with others who understand their experiences.
Extreme Adventures take participants outside their comfort zones through challenging activities like multi-day hikes and extended canoe trips. Family and Youth Retreats offer shorter, two- or three-day experiences with opportunities to explore the outdoors, learn new skills, and build connections in a supportive environment.
Our programs are designed for people living with T1D, their family members, friends or other supporters.
All types of insulin pumps, looping, CGMs, injections, or other diabetes management methods are welcome. Let the ICD team know about any equipment questions, backup plans, or special considerations before the trip.
You do not need to be an elite athlete, but you should be prepared for the physical demands of your chosen program.
Some trips are designed for beginners – our retreats generally take place in accessible front-country locations. Extreme Adventures may involve long days of hiking, paddling, camping, and navigating challenging terrain.
Each program has different requirements, so review the trip details or reach out to us to find the experience that is right for you.
Our programs combine outdoor experiences with practical diabetes education, mentorship, and peer connection. Participants have opportunities to work through real-life diabetes management challenges during physical activity, learn from others living with T1D, and build confidence in their ability to manage diabetes in new situations.
Diabetes management is integrated into the adventure experience. Participants practise managing blood glucose, insulin, food, and physical activity in real-world situations with support from the program team. Specific support and supervision arrangements vary by program, so participants should review the program information and communicate their individual needs before registering.
Blood glucose fluctuations can and do happen during physical activity, and learning to recognize and respond to them is an important part of our programs. Participants should bring their usual diabetes supplies, fast-acting carbohydrates, and any other required equipment. The team will follow the program’s established diabetes management and safety procedures.
Extreme Adventures can be demanding and may involve long days of physical activity, carrying equipment, camping in the outdoors, and adapting to changing weather and terrain.
Each trip has specific fitness, preparation, and participation requirements.
Preparation may include building your fitness, practising relevant outdoor skills, gathering the required equipment, and developing a diabetes management plan for extended physical activity. ICD will share trip-specific information and preparation guidance to help participants get ready.
We encourage interested participants to contact ICD if they are unsure whether a particular adventure is a good fit.
ICD’s Family and Youth Retreats offer a chance to step away from everyday routines and enjoy outdoor activities, shared experiences, and meaningful connections with the T1D community. Depending on the retreat, activities may include hiking, outdoor challenges, group games, skill-building activities, and unmatched spaces to learn from peers and mentors.
Family Retreats give people living with T1D and their family members an opportunity to learn, explore, and connect together. Youth (ages 13+) in attendance will have the opportunity to break away into exclusive teen-only tracks, stepping up as leaders while tackling activities built just for them.
Youth Retreats provide young people living with T1D a safe, non-judgemental environment to learn from peers and mentors. to build independence, confidence, friendships, and leadership skills alongside peers and mentors.
Yes, our adventures and retreats include meals, camping equipment, or other accommodations.
Packing lists vary by program. Family and Youth Retreats often feature cabin accommodations, so tents and camping gear are generally not required. Extreme Adventures require additional outdoor and camping gear.
All participants should bring weather-appropriate clothing, suitable footwear, personal toiletries, and their diabetes supplies.
Check out our sample outdoor adventure packing list here!
Registered participants will receive program-specific packing instructions, including details about any required equipment and what will be provided.
ICD is committed to making its programs accessible to people living with T1D. Financial assistance may be available through the Empowerment Fund for eligible participants.
Contact ICD or review the program registration information to learn more about available support.
We are happy to help you find the right adventure or retreat for your needs.
Contact the I Challenge Diabetes team with questions about program suitability, diabetes management support, preparation, registration, or accessibility at [email protected]