Along with the Young Adult Summit, we were also excited to host 22 adult burn survivors at Camp Ocean Pines for our annual Adult Retreat. Folks joined us from all over California, and we were fortunate enough to have a group from the BC Burn Fund join us as well. The weekend started off with an amazing opening ceremony curated by our longtime friend and supporter of the burn survivor community, Wendy, who highlighted the significance of the upcoming Lunar new year. The transition from the year of the snake to this year of the fire horse had so much strong imagery and messages that burn survivors could relate to. The idea that this weekend was an opportunity to shed our skin, grow a little bit, and ride a fire horse confidently into the next phase of our lives was so powerful.
We spent the weekend making meaningful connections with one another and processing our thoughts and feelings around being a burn survivor through art projects, workshop activities, and of course tons of rich discussion between peers. One of the art projects we spent a lot of time on was a mask panting exercise. Attendees decorated the outside of their masks with images or colors that capture how we think we are perceived by others, and the inside would be decorated with how we perceive ourselves. This generated a ton of great discussion about how, and why there is usually a big difference between the two and really helped the group gain a better understanding of ourselves and each other.
We had one afternoon where the weather was more forgiving, so we decided it was a good idea to spend that time at the beach. What better place to unwind, take a breather, and continue to connect with each other and our environment. For many people, it can be really challenging to dedicate time to just take a moment, enjoy the beauty of nature, and just appreciate all the small things that got you to that moment. Seizing this opportunity in what would otherwise be a very scheduled, action-packed weekend was a great reminder to everyone that sometimes taking a break is just what we need to make sure we can take the next steps restored and reinvigorated.
Throughout the weekend we were treated to so many talented folks sharing their art with the group. From one of our new friends at the BC Burn Fund, we were blown away by a song they had written during their time in the hospital right after their burn injury. Phoenix by Valor Grey captures the feelings this survivor had during that really critical time where you are faced with tremendous adversity and uncertainty, but through such adversity they have become braver, stronger, and so much more than the scars you might see. After listening, we couldn’t help but feel empowered by our experiences and proud of each other for everything we had to overcome to get where we are today. An attendee from the Bay Area shared an animated music video they had created for their senior art project that was heavily inspired by their experience as a burn survivor. Set It On Fire by Bentbones on YouTube depicts a ghost child who, despite persisting through incredibly difficult situations, does not always feel seen or understood. This message resonates with many burn survivors and after watching, it became easier to embrace vulnerability and feel connected and supported by one another by realizing we are not the only ones who have had these difficult feelings. All of the art shared this weekend, whether it was professionally constructed or not, was intended to show the similarities we have and the journey we go through as burn survivors. The courage it took each and every participant to capture their experience through art and share it for others to understand and connect with inspiring, and made such a strong healing impact I know many of us will cherish for a long time.
Towards the end of the retreat, we were able to have a sit-down family style dinner where we could all be together and recap what a special time we all got to have. With our hearts full, and new friends made, we set off the following day looking forward to the next Adult Retreat. So much gratitude for everyone who was able to attend and for all of those who contributed towards making this event as meaningful as it was. Special shout out to our volunteers, Cindy Rutter, Wendy Domster, and Daniel Chacon, as well as Andrew from Camp Ocean Pines, thank you all so much, and can’t wait to see you next time.
