Camp Nejeda Alumni

Not so many moons ago, it was the norm for the campers and staff of Camp Nejeda to hear the following words echo through the Dining Hall..."You young girls and boys don't know how lucky you are..."

The voice was that of Frances Wells Vroom, one of the founders of Camp Nejeda. And she was right. We were all lucky. Lucky to spend long days working and playing in the summer sun. Lucky to meet friends who would last a lifetime. Lucky to be or teach a child learning to live well with diabetes.

Frances was lucky too. Diagnosed with diabetes at the age of 18, she was one of the first to receive insulin from Dr. Elliott Joslin himself. She was full of life, hope and inspiration. Her belief and energy for Camp Nejeda never faltered. She was a hero and we are lucky to have known her.  It is in her honor that we bring you the Nejeda Alumni Association. Please join us!

Help Camp Nejeda locate Nejeda Alumni - please get in touch and let us know your current contact information and names/contact info for other Nejeda alumni. Camp Nejeda has exciting plans for our alumni but we need help finding everyone!

Please update your contact information in the Camp Nejeda Alumni database - (click here to update) 

Please email jennifer.vanvlandren@campnejeda.org or call 973-383-2611 x 228 with questions.

In Honor of Frances Wells Vroom

Diagnosed during her freshman year of college in 1926, Frances Wells Vroom understood very well the challenges of living with diabetes and dedicated much of her adut life to finding ways to help people with diabetes, especially children. 

For thousands of Nejeda alumni, her greatest legacy was her role in the creation of Camp Nejeda. As Chairman of the New Jersey Diabetes League, Mrs. Vroom worked closely with parents and with the physicians of the New Jersey Diabetes Association to establish Camp Nejeda in 1958, which has since beome a "home away from home" for generations of families affected by type 1 diabetes. 

Mrs. Vroom's efforts were recognized in 1966 at the twenty-sixth Annual Meeting of the ADA, when she was named as "Outstanding Layman of the Year," an honor conferred on the non-professional considered to have contributed most toward the well-being of people with diabetes.

The July-August 1966 issue of the ADA's "Forecast" magazine featured an article written by Mrs. Vroom about her experience living with diabetes and her efforts to serve others.

We continue to be inspired by Mrs. Vroom's efforts -- and those of all the camp's founders -- to help children with diabetes to live healthier, happier lives.