jonstetson wrote @ June 21, 2009 at 1:49 pm

Jon Stetson, mentalist and worldwide performer, is pleased to announce that he entertained campers and staff with his “I Know What You’re Thinking” program at the nineteenth Annual Illinois Fire Safety Alliance Burn Camp. The IFSA Camp “I Am Me” was held June 14-20, 2009, at YMCA Camp Duncan in Ingleside, Illinois. This was the second year in a row that Stetson volunteered his services for Camp “I Am Me.”

According to Dottie Ahbe, the camp’s program director and IFSA’s education director, “Jon Stetson was a huge success last year. He made such an impression that this is the first time that both campers and staff have asked for a performer to come back to the camp. His visits really make a difference.”

Camp “I Am Me” is for burn survivors ages 8 to 16 who have experienced a burn injury requiring hospitalization or treatment at an outpatient clinic. They participate in typical summer camp activities as well as special activities that deal with the specific needs of burn survivors. Each year approximately 90 children from Illinois, most from the Chicago area, attend the week-long Camp “I Am Me.”

The camp holds the distinction of being the only burn camp that has achieved accreditation with the American Camping Association. “We worked extremely hard to get the camp accredited by the ACA. It was a grueling process,” says Dottie Ahbe, camp program director.

The Illinois Fire Safety Alliance is a non-profit coalition of individuals dedicated to fire safety and burn prevention through public education. The Alliance sponsored its first burn camp in 1991.

Camp “I Am Me” invites young burn survivors to share their experiences while being able to play and not feel self-conscious about how others may react to their scars. “It is very important that Austin has a place he can go where no one focuses on his scars and instead see his true self,” says Kathleen O’Donoghue, mother of camper Austin O’Donoghue.

More then 300 children are hospitalized for burns in Illinois each year. The cost to send one child to Camp “I Am Me” is approximately $1,800, and all children attend at no cost to their families.

The qualified staff, mostly volunteers, participates in an orientation that prepares them to deal with the special physical and self-esteem needs of burn survivors. “Volunteers have the opportunity to turn a negative situation into a positive one” says Kathleen Haage, the camp’s chairperson and IFSA’s vice president.

Camp “I Am Me” provides a ratio of one counselor for every two campers to ensure proper care and safety of the campers. The medical staff is available for campers who need physical or occupational therapy, pressure garments, and other medical monitoring.

Camp activities include row boating, sailing, canoeing, fishing, archery, nature, crafts, camp-outs, hiking, and horseback riding. Swimming is an activity that many burn survivors reluctantly participate in because of their scars. At Camp “I Am Me” the campers can swim without worrying about what others are thinking because everyone at the camp has scars.

A variety of special activities not found at a typical camp are offered at Camp “I Am Me,” activities that deal with the specific needs of burn survivors. Special sessions with cosmetic specialists teach the campers to apply make-up to cover their obvious scars, and the older girls also learn how to apply eye makeup to enhance their appearance.

IFSA Camp “I Am Me” invites young burn survivors to share their experiences while being able to play and not feel self-conscious about how others may react to their scars. The campers are given opportunities to openly discuss how they feel about what happened to them. “Here at Burn Camp, I’m with my friends. You can sit down and talk with them. They have been through what I have. They understand,” a 14-year- old camper said.

In 2001 one camper pointed out that “Burn Camp” was printed on the camp’s t-shirts. This camper further explained that the shirts served as another label put on them as well as a reminder of their burn injuries. Campers had an opportunity to submit a name for the IFSA Burn Camp. After the Board of Directors reviewed all the names submitted, they chose Camp “I Am Me,” submitted by 16-year-old camper Molly Schaller of Lockport, Illinois.

“I chose Camp “I Am Me” because I always feel that at camp I can be myself and not have to worry about how I look. I never have to worry about my scars showing or people looking at them. I have always felt comfortable with my scars at camp, and over the years I have learned to feel the same way outside of camp. I feel that “I Am Me” is a good name for Burn Camp because at camp you are accepted for who you really are. It is one week each year when everyone, despite their differences, is the same.” says Molly Schaller.

Anyone knowing of a burn survivor who would benefit from IFSA Camp “I Am Me” or would like to make a donation should contact the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance at P.O. Box 911, Mount Prospect, Illinois, 60056 or call 1-800-634-0911.