Burn Bulletin

New Counselor Training (NCT) 2024, was packed with silly, high-energy twenty-three amazing new counselors coming into our Champ Camp family this year.

We participated in training through team building exercises, handbook overview, counselor/ camp expectations, camp/facility tours, campfire with skits, and learning songs.

We are happy to introduce you to our new counselors for 2024:

Taro, Baymax, R2, Shiba, Bruno, Mater, Trebel, Flaka, Mac n Cheese, Sunkist, Chilla, Tyde, Ultra Violet, Sunny, Mijo, Ginger, Wasabi, Berrie, Jiu Jeddie, Cinnamon, Sinker, Squirrel and Spaghetti.

If you plan to be enrolled in the 2024/25 academic year at a Trade School, Junior College, or University, it is not too late to apply for a financial scholarship through AARBF’s “Bridge to Life” Scholarship offered by the Woody and Louise Reed family to support burn survivors and their family members pursuing higher education.

Applications are closing on June 30, 2024: https://forms.gle/HCaBGdzJeqz3qvxu8

And if you are pursuing a master’s degree or PhD, you can use the same application to apply for the “Aiming Higher” scholarship for burn survivors, sponsored by Care Plans for Life, LLC.

And if the application get sticky for you, your Care Managers, Martha and Michael, are always ready to help.

Because of the traumatic nature of a burn injury, it is common for burn survivors to experience flashbacks and nightmares.  As they go through the physical and emotional impact of the injury, burn survivors may experience feelings of depression, anxiety, body image, social isolation, withdrawal from relationships, low self-esteem, and chronic pain, just to mention some. Also, some burn survivors may deal with grief and loss and survivor’s guilt due to the loss of a loved one during the accident.

There are different techniques, coping skills practices and self-care strategies burn survivors can practice to help manage and improve some of the mental health symptoms during recovery, such as relaxation techniques, mindfulness, stress management, and more.  AARBF can support you through your recovery journey. Let us know how we can help. At AARBF, we have the following services available: Peer Support, virtual and in-person support groups, therapy grants, retreats, and more. Please contact one of our Care Managers today at mbanks@aarbf.org or mknopf@aarbf.org.

Memorial Day is often acknowledged as the unofficial start of the summer season, and that means many of us are planning summer parties and maybe dusting off the grill. Barbecue safety is always important, and especially if there are extra people gathering around the official burger-flipper! You want to be sure your grill, either charcoal or propane, is well away from the walls of your home, fences, overhanging branches, deck railings, and anything flammable. Kids and pets want a safety zone of at least three feet from the grill area while you’re cooking—and of course you want to always be there (never leaving the grill unattended). Clean off old grease and fat buildup before you start, and once the grill is lit, never add charcoal fluid or any flammable liquids to an already lit fire. A safe party is the only way to enjoy the summer season.

AARBF’s Champ Camp is the largest camp for burn-injured children. It is a large undertaking to bring upwards of 150 children to Wonder Valley each June and we could not accomplish this without the support of our burn community. Whether it’s by volunteering, donating, or participating in one of our activities, the impact is felt by the children who get a week to come together creating memories and friendships that can last a lifetime.

It is not too late to show your support of this awesome camp. Below are opportunities still available.

Amazon Wish List

Each year, our program staff creates a wish list of items needed for arts and crafts, as well as water games and activities. To purchase an item from our Amazon wish list, please click here.

Chili Cook-Off

On Wednesday, June 12, we will host the annual Champ Camp Chili Cook-Off. If you think you have the best chili around, our campers will be the judge. Chili teams will compete for the best chili and best booth. Click here to sign up to participate in our Chili Cook-Off.

Champy-On Fundraiser

Our Champy-On online fundraiser is in full swing. The goal for this year is $39,000 in honor of Champ Camp’s 39th year. Click here to donate or to create or join a fundraising team.

Champ Camp Store

For a limited time, you can purchase AARBF and Champ Camp branded merchandise through our online store. You do not have to attend camp to be able to purchase. Click here to visit the online store before May 17th.

For more information about any of the Champ Camp opportunities available, please contact Erika “Kika” Mendoza at emendoza@aarbf.org.

Sunday, April 7th, marked the 10th Anniversary of the Fresno Urban Run. This year, with nearly 1000 runners hitting the streets of Downtown Fresno, the run raised over $14,000 for AARBF and Champ Camp. Our volunteer, Scott “Poindexter” Mellon, and the Fresno City Fire Academy Class of 61 were joined by teams from CRMC, AARBF, Fresno City Fire, Selma Fire, Central Valley Firefighters Credit Union, and burn survivor “Chop Suey” as part of the 3.1-mile run/stair climb ending at the historic Grand Hotel.

We are very thankful to the teams and participants of the run and fundraising efforts leading up to race day. Their contribution will help send fourteen children to camp.

At the national American Burn Association conference in Chicago April 8th-12th, there was so much learning and connection and collaboration going on with our hospital partners and medical community, fire prevention experts and community risk reduction teams, and several other burn foundations from across the country. It was a deeply inspiring and busy several days. One of the ways AARBF participated this year was to enter a “Prevention Message” poster to get the word out in new ways about being fire-safe. The theme of the poster competition was “Burn Prevention Where You Live, Work, and Play – Preventing Burns in the Homes” Our entry highlights distracted cooking and cell phone usage as a possible cooking hazard and won third place in the national competition.

AARBF hosted the Women’s Empowerment Weekend Retreat from April 18th-21th. We were thrilled to welcome fourteen remarkable and powerful burn survivor women, along with six facilitators and one staff member.

The retreat was packed with eleven different workshops on topics such as relationships, intimacy, mirror work, journaling, manifestation, vocational rehab, empowered accomplishments, and much more. As a group, we were able to explore nature and ground ourselves by taking group walks around Camp Calvin Crest. The retreat provided a safe space for everyone, and the group became one and supported each other throughout the weekend.

We would like to extend a special thank you to our amazing facilitators who demonstrated their deep commitment to WEW 2024: Cindy, Ruth, Wendy, Jill, Brooke, and our facilitators in training (FITs), Quincy and Skittles.

On Sunday, April 21st, the Wonder Valley Ranch Resort (and home of Champ Camp) hosted a family fun day. This was a great opportunity to experience all of the great activities available such as, zip line, rock wall, ropes course, waterslides, canoeing, trampolines, go-carts, pony rides, archery, hayrides, swimming, and sport courts. They also had food trucks in partnership with Fresno Street Eats. Proceeds from the event, totaling $4,000 directly benefit Champ Camp. Thank you to Wonder Valley and everyone who attended the Family Fun Day.