Burn Bulletin

Every year, over one hundred of former campers, firefighters, burn care nurses, doctors, and amazing volunteers show up in Sanger, CA, to spend a week investing in the lives of our campers. Each volunteer can share a story of the impact a child from Champ Camp has made on their lives.  

“When I see one of my campers, who is a senior guy, opening up about the difference his time at camp makes every day with tears in his eyes, and how much he looks forward to coming back every year to see friends and us leaders. That is a reminder of how much camp did for me as a kid and it is the reason I come back to volunteer every year.”  

Peter “Chop Suey” Reynaga 

For AARBF, our volunteers are essential to the support and community we build at Champ Camp. You can help our volunteers make an even greater impact by donating to our annual Champy-On fundraiser.

The Champy-On fundraiser has been extended to Saturday, June 13th. Please make your gift on the Champy-On page before time runs out at: https://givebutter.com/champyon2026

The 44th Annual SoCal Golf Tournament, held on May 5th, was a record‑breaking success for the second year in a row, raising over $55,000 to support burn survivor youth.

Year after year, John Patterson and Red Pointe Roofing make an extraordinary impact; their dedication continues to open the door for young burn survivors to experience camp —a place where healing, confidence-building, joy, and lifelong friendships grow. Our gratitude for John and the entire Red Pointe Roofing team truly knows no bounds.

Thank you to our hosts, participants, donors, and supporters. Your generosity changes lives.

On Friday, May 8th, our director, Katrina, was joined by Veronica, Bethany, Persaeus, Yahir, and guests to support the Bakersfield Firefighters Burn Foundation at their annual Light Up the Night fundraising dinner. The evening took place at the Kern County Museum Neon Courtyard, where survivors, burn care professionals, members of the Phoenix Society, and Firefighters came together to help send survivors to Champ Camp and the Phoenix Society’s World Burn Congress. 

AARBF is proud to support our fellow Burn Foundations through events such as this. Together, we continue to provide essential services to burn survivors and their families. Thank you to the Bakersfield Firefighter Burn Foundation for a wonderful evening and your dedication to the burn community. 

On May 9th-10th, we welcomed three amazing new counselors to the Champ Camp family during our New Counselor Training at Wonder Valley Ranch. Welcome Pacha, Maybe, and Caveman. 

Throughout the weekend, they participated in ice breakers, camp and counselor training, camper management discussions, and skit groups while getting a feel for the energy, teamwork, and heart that make Champ Camp so special. It was so great watching everyone come together, step outside of their comfort zones, and already begin building connections with the camp family. Caveman really took to his name and even shared a few survival tips with the group, which was such a fun add on to the weekend.

A huge thank you as well to our dedicated program staff for leading the weekend and helping create such a welcoming and supportive experience for our new counselors.

On May 11th, Three Off the Tee LLC hosted the Fairways for the Fallen Golf Tournament at Temecula Creek Inn, benefiting AARBF. This small firefighter-owned business hosted a well-run event, welcoming players who enjoyed beautiful weather, and a chance to learn more about our mission at our information table.

We are grateful to Three Off the Tee LLC for their support and commitment to giving back to the community. Thank you to their sponsors, volunteers, and golfers who helped make the tournament a success while supporting AARRBF.

This month, we are excited to share how Natalie Plecque has made a large impact in a short time!

Natalie has only been a part of the AARBF family since 2020. Burned in September of that year during COVID she spent 25 days in the SCVM burn unit. Unable to have any visitors created a very isolating experience for Natalie. Luckily two of her nurses, Lea and Rana, were affiliated with AARBF and provided her a connection with other survivors through AARBF’s virtual support group. “It saved my sanity by showing me I was not alone, and that there was a light on the other side.”  With this experience, Natalie was motivated to give back. As soon as she was eligible, she completed the peer support training.

In 2023, Natalie joined the Survivor Services Committee where she used her 20 years of experience teaching children to help the team launch the Under 5 Program. This included the compilation of a book list and the creation of the Monterey Bay Aquarium (MBA) Under 5 family outing. “I know first-hand how vital it is for survivors and their families have support, so once MBA was up and running it was logical for me to step up into a bigger role.” That bigger role was first joining the Council of Advisors and then this past January transitioning to the Board of Directors. With Natalie’s new role on the board, she has also taken over as Chair of the Survivor Services Committee! And if this isn’t enough, Natalie represents the foundation at community events, serves on the Bridge to Life Scholarship Committee, and each month she, along with two other board members, sends out personal thank you cards to convey our appreciation to the donors who are a part of the Ruch Family Circle. Thank you, Natalie, for being a part of the AARBF family and to your commitment to support other burn survivors and their families!

Applications will be closing soon for the Woody and Louise Reed Bridge to Life Scholarship. This incredible program, made possible by the Reed family, awards scholarships to burn survivors or their immediate family members seeking post-secondary education after high school. This can be community college, college, university, or trade school and is open to all ages going directly into or returning to education.

Apply today at: https://forms.gle/bffj8qEcspGto69m7

For questions, please contact us at info@aarbf.org.

During our Monterey Bay Aquarium Under 5 Day event on Saturday, April 11th, we had the opportunity to start the morning at Fire Station 11, hosted by the Monterey Firefighters Foundation. They welcomed our families with a delicious breakfast, gave us a tour of the station, and provided a space for a parent support group led by Poppy and Figgy. It was a meaningful way to connect, share, and ease into the day together. 

After our time at the station, full of bubbles, we gathered to thank the fire crew for their support before heading over to the Monterey Bay Aquarium as a group, where families could keep that connection going while also having fun, exploring, and just being together. 

A huge thank you to the Aquarium for supporting community partners like us through the Free to Learn program. It truly makes a difference for our families. 

This event is all about creating a smaller, comfortable space for our families with little ones to come together, connect, and support each other in a way that feels safe and manageable. A huge thank you to our MBA core volunteer group for continuing to show up for our families with little burn survivors and helping create these spaces for connection.