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Burn Camps and Support Services
When a child leaves the hospital after healing their physical burns, they return to their home community where they often are the only one with burns. The staff at the Burn Center recognize that children and adolescent burn survivors are dealing with many physical, social and emotional issues, e.g. acceptance by their friends and classmates. Children often feel lonely and embarrassed being the only one in their school or community with burns.
We recognized the need for children and teens to be able to come together with others who have burn injuries and discuss their experiences and emotions and to have fun together. The idea of starting our own Burn Camp began in 1986 and the first Burn Camp at Courage North was held the summer of 1987.
The Children's Hospital Burn Camp at Cheley Colorado Camps
During the third week of August each year, children ages eight to 18 who have been hospitalized at burn centers across the country attend Cheley Camps. For more than 70 years, boys and girls have enjoyed a camp experience at Cheley Camps, nestled high in the Colorado Rockies just outside Estes Park. Burn campers have enjoyed its therapeutic beauty since 1983.
Besides experiencing all the usual outdoor camp activites of swimming, horseback riding, climbing, backpacking, fishing, archery, singing, square dancing, arts and crafts and nature lore--the children who attend Burn Camp gain social living skills that help them cope with their injuries and with life after being burned. Through all their activities, they are supported by staff members from The Children's Hospital of Denver's Burn Team. These social workers, physical therapists, occupational therapists, nurses and physicians have special expertise in pediatric burn treatment, and they help ensure that the kids not only have a great time, but they also experience personal growth.
Because every child who attends has experienced a burn injury, the campers meet and socialize with kids just like themselves. The shared activites--often with burn team staff--also let the children get to know their caregivers away from the intensity of painful procedures.
So whether they are on a challenge course, catching their first (or hundreth) fish, climbing on a horse or creating crafts with an Artist in Residence, the children who attend Cheley Camps gain more than a fun summer week. They gain confidence. They gain life skills. They gain great memories. And most of all, they gain the friendship of others who can truly understand.
Cost
Scholarships are provided for all campers who have received burn care at Regions Hospital. These scholarships include round-trip airfare transportation departing from the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.
Transporation
Transportation is arranged by The Regions Hospital Burn Center. All children fly from MPLS-ST Paul International Airport to Denver International Airport accompanied by Regions Hospital Burn Center staff. Camper's families are responsible for transportation from their homes to and from MPLS-ST Paul International Airport. An airport committee from Cheley Camp/Children's Hospital staff meets the campers and organizes arrival and departure times. Call Patti at The Regions Hospital Burn Center. Patti can be reached at 651-254-5605.
Registration forms
Regions Hospital Burn Camp registration forms are available at the Burn Center reception area. The Children's Hospital Burn Center is also available to answer your questions on Cheley Camp. For more information call Marion Doctor at 303-861-6604.
Family camps
There are many types of burn camps for kids in the United States but until July 18-25, 1998, no one had attempted a camp for families. Dan Gray, a school teacher from Mahtomedi, Minnesota had the idea and enthusiasm to bring a group together to plan the first family burn camp.
A student from his school was burned and consequently treated for a short time on Regions Hospital Burn Unit before she was transferred to Shriners Burn Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. He and two junior high students raised money to send this child to a summer burn camp. From this involvement he realized the whole family of a burn patient could benefit from going to a camp. Dan and his family had been attending Camp Du Nord, a YMCA family camp for many years. It is located at Burntside Lake 18 miles from Ely, Minnesota. "It was a natural progression for me to start thinking about how we could help burn survivors and their families attend Camp Du Nord family camp."
Children are divided by age for crafts, hikes, nature study, Indian lore and other camp activities. There are age groups for infants, youth and adults as well. The YMCA Rag program is available to campers 12 and older. The optional program is designed to help people take a closer look at themselves in relationship to their own strengths and weaknesses. Favorite evening programs include sauna time and a raucous camp auctions where all family members participate. Cabins for the burn group are located in close proximity and helped with the informal fun and bonding.
Denver Colorado
Ski Camp is winter ski camp located in Colorado. Generally one child each year from the Regions Hospital Burn Center is invited to attend this camp. The child/family must provide the cost of transportation to and from Winter Park, Colorado for camp. For more information and a registration form ask a burn therapist or contact Children's Hospital Winter Burn Camp, Winter Park, Colorado, Marion Doctor, MSW, The Children's Hospital, 1056 East 19th Ave., Denver CO .
Washington DC Camp
National Children's Burn Camp is sponsored by the International Association of Firefighters. Thirty-five youths between the ages of 13 and 17 are sent to camp in Washington, D.C. as representatives from United Sates and Canada camps. The week is filled with tours of the many monuments and museums, visits to fire stations and socials organized by local fire fighters. The Annual National Children's Burn Camp runs each year in September. For more information and a registration form ask a burn therapist or contact Alisa Ann Ruch, Burn Foundation 10944 Sherman Way, Suite 115, Canoga Park, CA 91303.
Esthetic Rehabilitation and Camouflage Cosmetics
Esthetic rehabilitation promotes psychological well-being. It may help patients lead more productive and satisfying lives by increasing self esteem and facilitating return to life roles at home, school or work.
Esthetic rehabilitation is the process of improving and/or camouflaging the appearance of scars and pigment problems using a combination of good skin care and camouflage makeup. Specialists in these techniques are called paramedical estheticians.
Esthetic rehabilitation can benefit burn patients by addressing issues of personal appearance and self confidence. Cosmetic rehabilitation usually begins after all wounds have healed and the skin is ready for the application of a topical cosmetic.
Esthetic rehabilitation is a service that is open to all patients, male or female. Patients who are interested can ask a care giver at the burn center for a referral to an esthetic specialist. If patients are unable to see a professional esthetician they may be able to purchase special cosmetics at a larger department store. At cosmetic counters in larger department stores there are often estheticians available to assist with makeup selection.
Needs and lifestyle are taken into account when designing an individualized program for each patient. The patient must be comfortable with the end result of the cosmetic work, and must be able to successfully duplicate it at home.
Services that Esthetic Rehabilitation can offer:
- The first step in esthetic rehabilitation is understanding how to take care of the skin.
- The esthetician will provide education on skin care needs specific to burn patients.
- Because burned skin is prone to dryness and sensitivity to the sun, these are the two biggest issues to address when choosing a skin care regimen.
- Preservatives and fragrances in hygiene products, cosmetics, makeup and lotions can be irritating to fragile skin. An unscented product with mild, non-irritating ingredients is the best choice for cosmetics. Avoiding products with alcohol, which dries out skin and may cause irritation, is also recommended. Hypoallergenic products are available, if needed. Super fatted soaps, such as Basis, may be helpful but Ivory soap, although pure and gentle, is drying and patients often report itching after using it.
Camouflage makeup is available from an esthetician. Over the counter brands include Covermark, Patee and Dermablend. There are several excellent types of camouflage makeups available today. A good camouflage makeup plays two roles. It is opaque enough to completely conceal irregularities, and it also performs as a sun block. Most good camouflage makeups have a titanium dioxide base. Titanium dioxide acts as an excellent non-chemical sun block, while at the same time it gives makeup the ability to conceal problem areas of the skin. The other benefit of titanium dioxide based makeups is that they can be water-proof. By setting the makeup base with a corn-starch or talc-based powder, camouflage makeup can be applied in the morning and worn throughout the day (even while swimming, without smearing or coming off.)
Overall benefits of camouflage makeup include:
- Conceal uneven texture and discolorations
- Provide artificial definition to damaged structures (lip line and eyebrows)
- Enhance non-burned areas to provide alternative focus
Overall benefits of esthetic rehabiliation include:
- Encourage patients to take an active role in their own skin care
- Goals are based on realistic expectations for cosmetic outcome
- Focus on positive changes
- A cosmetic program that is suited to the needs of the individual
- Training in the independent application of cosmetics
- Follow up consultation and support
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