Camp Celebrate, a camp for pediatric burn survivors, organized by the North Carolina Jaycee Burn Center, welcomed campers for a weekend of fun and healing.
Words and Photos by Jamie Williams, jamie.williams@unchealth.unc.edu
For 35 years, Camp Celebrate 鈥� the country鈥檚 longest running camp for pediatric burn survivors 鈥� has started with a swim. Michele Barr, pediatric aftercare coordinator at the North Carolina Jaycee Burn Center, said it鈥檚 the first important step in the healing that occurs here.
鈥淜ids who arrive self-conscious about their scars, afraid to take their shirts off or wear a bathing suit, can look around and see others like them,鈥� Barr said. 鈥淭hey don鈥檛 have to worry. They are safe here. It鈥檚 time to have fun.鈥�
The kids at Camp Celebrate are aged 7-15. Most were treated at the North Carolina Jaycee Burn Center, though the camp is open to all pediatric burn survivors.
During the weekend long camp, participants will canoe, swim, shoot bows and arrows and BB guns. They make friends, overcome fears, gain confidence.
鈥淚n burn recovery, healing the physical wounds is sometimes the easy part,鈥� said Anita Fields, burn aftercare program manager. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the emotional scars that can take a lifetime to get over.鈥�