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Community Corner

Donate to Burn Institute's 'Camp Beyond the Scars'

A camp for young burn survivors is being held in Ramona next week, and you can help send a kid to the week-long event.

In Ramona, from July 31-Aug. 5, more than 70 children with severe burn injuries will have a chance to do what kids do best–have fun and make friends at summer camp. The best part? You can help send a kid to this special event.

The Burn Institute's Camp Beyond the Scars celebrates its 26th birthday this year and is one of the Institute’s most successful burn survivor support programs specifically designed for burn-injured children ages 5-17, according to a Burn Institute news release.

“It has been heart-warming for me to get to know these kids over the years and watch them grow up and flourish,” said James Floros, Burn Institute Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer in the release. “Our camp provides the opportunity for them to form long-term bonds and to build self-esteem.”

Find out what's happening in Ramonawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

This year, campers from San Diego County and four other California counties (Imperial, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino) and three states (Arizona, Nevada and Texas) will visit Ramona's Oakbridge Camp for a week of self-esteem building, learning of coping skills, fellowship with other burn survivors and, of course, lots of fun.

“We are so excited to welcome so many new campers this year,” said Dana Kuhn, Program Services Manager for the Burn Institute in the news release. “Our focus will be on support group sessions as well as utilizing this week together to provide the best support available and give new and old campers some life lessons that will help them cope, manage and deal with their burn injuries.”

Find out what's happening in Ramonawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The Burn Institute provides this camp free of charge to burn-injured children and the public can now easily help send a kid to camp by to texting a one-time $5 donation to BURN at 20222. The charge will be added to your monthly cell phone bill and people can donate multiple times.

This year’s week-long event will be held at Oakbridge Camp in Ramona. Throughout the week, campers will participate in a variety of activities, including swimming and water sports, rock wall climbing, a ropes course, laser tag, skate boarding at the camp skate park, Frisbee golf, a talent show, biking, hiking, a visit from therapy pets, crafts, a drum circle movie night and cooling off on a field trip to the Coronado Aquatic Center.

The summer progam will also emphasize the power of a positive attitude with workshops and support groups designed for both teens and pre-teens. 

Also, once again this year, families dropping off their campers will be invited to a one-hour family support group.

Camp counselors include off-duty firefighters, UCSD Regional Burn Center staff, medical staff, educators and adult burn survivors who volunteer their time for the entire week.

Camp Beyond The Scars allows burn-injured children to be kids again–and not worry about looking different from everyone else,” said Arnell Garcia, Camp Director and San Diego-Fire Rescue Captain.

Garcia, himself, is a burn survivor who understands the importance of peer support and the challenges these youngsters face every day.

“Camp is a place where these kids can come and just have fun,” he said.

The Burn Institute is the local nonprofit agency dedicated to reducing the number of burn injuries and deaths in San Diego, Imperial, Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

For more information about Camp Beyond the Scars and the Burn Institute, visit www.burninstitute.org.

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