Campers Make Lifelong Friends At Oklahoma Firefighter's Burn Camp

The Oklahoma Firefighter’s Burn Camp is wrapping up its 16th year. The camp is for children from ages six to 16 who have suffered burns.

Fifty kids spend a week at camp dry gulch. It gets the kids ready to go back to school and face tough questions about their scars.

The campers and counselor all have disfiguring injuries or are burn victims, but they said the week isn't about their scars or injuries, but a time for them to build lifelong friendships and find some coping skills.

It’s a part of Lake Hudson that serves as the backdrop to swimming, silliness and tackling real issues for young burn victims. At some point every camper shares their story.

“Somehow the gasoline can was knocked over, and it leaked under the water heater and ignited,” said Counselor, Jenna Bullen. “My dad heard me scream and he pulled me out.”

“I was taking a bath one day and some steam rolled up and got me,” one camper said.

Counselor Sheridan Sparks, said, “I was unlucky. I got scars on both my legs and my arms 3rd degree."

Even after the scars heal, reminders remain.

“We can’t hide from what has happened to us, it’s right there in the open, and some people are very visual and want to judge you in the beginning, so it’s hard sometimes to get to know someone without them just looking at your scars,” Counselor Stephanie Gaches said.

Counselors, who are all former campers, want the kids to realize that you are you, regardless of what you look like.

“If somebody doesn’t like you that’s there loss; you move on to someone that does because there someone out there that’s going to like you, regardless of what you look like, what you sound like and laugh like,” Gaches said.

Each camper is matched with a counselor to get individual attention; and in the five days the focus shifts from burns to laughter, friendship and love.

Gaches and Seth Shingleton met 16 years ago when the camp began, but they just started dating last summer.

“We just kind of hit it off,” Shingleton said.

Everyone said a week at Dry Gulch helps them break free from shyness, gives them strength and camaraderie all year long.

“I think coming to camp especially, it makes us stronger, it’s like our ocounselinging here, we become closer with each other and learning each other’s stories helps too,” said Bullen.

If you would like your child to participate in next year's camp, or donate, you can find more information on their website.