Scars Don’t Prevent Young Burn Survivors from Celebrating Life and Making Memories at Illinois Burn Camp
Mount Prospect, IL – From June 19-25, 2016, approximately 70 burn-injured children attended the 26th annual Camp “I Am Me” in Ingleside, Illinois. The burn camp, which is organized by the nonprofit Illinois Fire Safety Alliance (IFSA) and hosted at YMCA Camp Duncan, provides burn survivors between the ages of eight and 16 with typical camp activities as well as special activities that deal with the specific needs of burn survivors. And although the cost to send one child to camp is $2,400, the camp is provided free of charge to the campers thanks to the generosity of donors.
“These children are burned due to various circumstances, such as scalding water, chemicals, fire, or electricity. Unfortunately, they only represent a small portion of the hundreds of Illinois children that are burned each year, but we continuously work with the hospital burn units to create awareness and reach more children. Our goal is to give this free opportunity to every burn-injured child in Illinois.”
In addition to having fun with the usual camp activities, the young burn survivors attend activities that include character development, journaling and therapeutic sessions.. These activities occur in a nonjudgmental environment that allows them to learn from themselves and others, discovering new ways to “heal” and build self-esteem. These are resources and outlets that some campers do not have in their own communities.
“Many kids think they are all alone in their recovery from a burn. They may be teased by others in their hometowns because of their burn scars — scars which may be both physical and emotional,” notes Zaleski. “But camp helps shows these children they are not alone and they don’t have to be afraid to be themselves. It tends to have a positive and lasting impact on young burn survivors’ lives.”
In fact, over one-third of camp volunteers each year are former campers. In addition, members of the fire service and medical community, as well as educators and members of the private sector, volunteer their time for a total of nearly one volunteer for each camper.
For more information about Camp “I Am Me,” please visit www.IFSA.org/Camp-I-Am-Me.
About the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance: Since 1982, the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance (IFSA), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, has been promoting and disseminating fire safety and burn prevention materials and resources. The IFSA also hosts a variety of support programs for burn survivors including the Young Adult Summit, Family Day, and Camp “I Am Me,” a unique weeklong camp for children who have experienced severe burn injuries. For more information, visit www.IFSA.org.
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