June 01, 2004
Camp for burned children is July 25-31
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Young burn survivors are eligible to attend a free weeklong summer camp July 25-31 at Southern Illinois University Carbondale's Touch of Nature Environmental Center.
Campers may try caving, rock climbing, canoeing, swimming, crafts and outdoor team-building activities. And the more experienced campers will be eligible to spend the entire time canoeing and camping near the Missouri Ozarks.
The Southern Illinois Camp for Burned Children (also known as Camp Adventure) can accommodate 30 boys and girls, ages 8 to 18, and is certain to fill up fast. To register or request more information, call toll free at 888/567-3683. Enrollment is on a first-come, first-served basis.
Those who register by June 25 will receive free prizes.
Burned children from Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky and Indiana are eligible to attend.
Boys and girls will bunk in separate air-conditioned cabins and enjoy a mix of hot meals, cookouts and sack lunches.
Firefighters from Southern Illinois and the St. Louis Metro-East area raise money year-round to cover the cost of the camp. First offered in 1996, it's the only such camp of its kind in the region.
Carbondale firefighter Dana MacCrimmon is helping organize this year's event. She says it's a great experience for kids marked by physical and emotional scars.
"It's a great experience for kids who have survived the many physical obstacles resulting from burns and consequential medical treatment," says MacCrimmon. "At Camp Adventure, they can meet others who've faced similar challenges and join together to celebrate their strengths.
"It's an opportunity for these children to make the most of their summers. And, it presents a week full of fun and exciting, new personal experiences."
If you know a child who might benefit from the camp, refer them to the toll-free registration line at 888/567-3683.
Individual and corporate donations, all tax-deductible, may be sent to Southern Illinois Camp for Burned Children, P.O. Box 2851, Carbondale, IL 62902.
SIUC operates the Touch of Nature Environmental Center. Located about seven miles south of Carbondale, the center is a leader in providing outdoor experiences to children and adults with disabilities.
Serving others is among the goals of Southern at 150: Building Excellence Through Commitment, the blueprint for the University's development by the time it celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2019.