Posts Tagged Illinois Fire Safety Alliance’s Camp I Am Me

Illinois Fire Safety Alliance Camp for burn victims (more)

From the Huntley FPD Facebook page:

We are honored to have participated in “Camp I am Me” virtual parade. Over 50 fire agencies submitted video’s so that we could continue to support our campers and let them know that we miss seeing them this year. Since 1991, the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance has been providing this safe, non-judgmental environment for children to have the opportunity to build their self-esteem as they enjoy the varied activities that make up their camp experience.

Camp “I Am Me”provides the setting for child burn survivors to share their common experiences while being able to play and not feel self-conscious about their scars. The benefits to the campers — physical, psychological, and emotional — have been enough to inspire a long list of eager volunteers and contributors.

 

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Illinois Fire Safety Alliance Camp for burn victims

Fire Service friends,
 
As you are aware, each year the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance (IFSA) hosts a weeklong camp for children that are survivors of burn injuries – Camp “I Am Me.” No other IFSA program has received greater attention from the fire service, medical community, general public, and media then burn camp. Sadly, this year’s camp has been cancelled due to the pandemic, but we will have a virtual event the week of July 19th. Work is in full swing with more than 20 different sessions already planned!
 
We need your assistance! Every year at camp, many departments send apparatus to participate in a parade where campers ride in the vehicles with sirens going while waving to a crowd of onlookers. As part of this year’s camp we want to create a video that will duplicate the experience for campers. Our hope is to have fire departments create a video of your personal message to the camp with sirens and horns. 
 
Please send your video here by Wednesday June 17th. Make sure you identify your department, village, or fire district name in the file name.
 
We hope that the campers can count on your support. With camp scheduled for mid-July, we’d like to receive all submissions as soon as possible to start editing the video. Thank you for whatever support or assistance you can offer!
 
With grateful appreciation,
 
Philip Zaleski
Executive Director
Illinois Fire Safety Alliance
Link to Virtual Camp site – www.ifsa.org/virtual-camp
Illinois Fire Safety Alliance (IFSA) camp for children that are survivors of burn injuries – Camp “I Am Me"

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Illinois Fire Safety Alliance Camp for burn victims

Excerpts from the pantograph.com:

The Illinois Fire Safety Alliance has announced the dates for next year’s Camp “I Am Me!” The camp will represent the 30th anniversary of Illinois’ camp for young burn survivors, ages 8 to 16, who have experienced a burn requiring outpatient treatment or hospitalization.

Through the generosity of donors, supporters, sponsors, and volunteers, the IFSA continues to offer this unique, week-long experience at no cost to campers. Everything is covered, including lodging, meals, activities, and transportation to and from the camp, which is held at the YMCA Camp Duncan in Ingleside.

Next year’s Camp “I Am Me” will be June 14-20 with the fire apparatus parade, appreciation day and fun fair on June 17.

No other IFSA program has received greater attention from the fire service, medical community, general public, and the media then Camp “I Am Me.” It provides the setting for child burn survivors to share their common experiences while being able to play and not feel self-conscious about their scars. The benefits to the campers – physical, psychological, and emotional – have been enough to inspire a long list of eager volunteers and contributors.

Camp “I Am Me” was the first camp (for burn survivors) to become accredited in the United States through the American Camp Association (ACA). In order to maintain this recognition, the IFSA continues to meet industry-accepted and government-recognized standards to ensure the proper care and safety of all campers.

For more information about the camp, go to www.lFSA.org/programs/camp.

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Lake Zurich Fire Department news

Excerpts from the DailyHerald.com:

Each year, Culver’s of Lake Zurich along with the Lake Zurich Fire Department and students at Isaac Fox School, help collect money for a special and unforgettable one-week camp experience for children and teenagers who have experienced injuries from burns. This year the group collected $1,631.30 for the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance.

Through the generosity of donors, supporters and volunteers, the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance offers this camping opportunity at no cost to campers, including lodging, meals, activities, and transportation to and from camp, YMCA Camp Duncan in Ingleside. Campers participate in a variety of adult-supervised, group, age-appropriate activities that provide fun and challenging opportunities for positive outcomes with other burn survivors.

The goal of Camp “I Am Me” is to provide a nonjudgmental atmosphere in which children and adolescents have the opportunity to build their self-esteem while establishing lifelong friendships and positive memories. The camp provides young burn survivors an opportunity to effectively talk to other survivors about their injuries to help them in their approach to life.

In addition to YMCA counselors, the camp is staffed by volunteers including many doctors, nurses, social workers, physical and occupational therapists, fire service personnel, teachers, and other professionals. They participates in various professional development and orientation sessions designed to prepare attendees to deal with the specific needs of burn survivors as well as to build a cohesive team. This large group of volunteers results in a nearly 1:1 counselor-to-camper ratio.

For more information, visit www.ifsa.org/programs/camp.

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Illinois Fire Safety Alliance Camp for burn victims

Excerpts from ifs.org:

From June 18-24, nearly 70 burn-injured children between the ages of eight and 16 will attend Camp “I Am Me.” The 27th annual week-long camp is hosted by the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance at YMCA Camp Duncan in Ingleside, Illinois, featuring a wide array of typical camp activities as well as special activities that deal with the specific needs of burn survivors. Generous donations from various groups statewide fully fund Camp “I Am Me,” which would otherwise cost approximately $2,400 per camper.

It is a truly unique camp that allows young children who have been burned by scalding water, chemicals, fire, or electricity to be in a judgment-free environment with others who have shared similar experiences,” says Philip Zaleski, executive director of the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance. “Through our work with hospital burn units, the State Fire Marshal’s Office, and fire departments statewide we hope to reach all burn-injured children in Illinois so they can benefit from the free camp.”

Campers can participate in nearly 50 activities, including horseback riding, swimming, and archery. But the activities that may have the biggest impact are those designed specifically for emotional healing. Through character development, journaling, and therapeutic sessions that help build self-esteem, they are able to take advantage of resources often not available in their hometowns.

“When the children attend camp, they find that they are not alone. The physical and emotional recovery from their burns is taken on from a community approach in which everyone helps and learns from each other. They don’t have to hide or be afraid to be themselves. Instead, they learn how to become more confident and bring that confidence back home,” notes Zaleski.

The positive impact of Camp “I Am Me” is evident as over one-third of camp volunteers each year are former campers. In addition, members of the fire service and medical community, as well as educators and members of the private sector, volunteer their time for a total of nearly one volunteer for each camper.

For more information about Camp “I Am Me,” please visit www.ifsa.org/programs/camp

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Illinois Fire Safety Alliance Camp for burn victims

From the IllinoisFireSafetyAlliance.com:

From June 19-25, 2016, approximately 70 burn-injured children will attend the 26th annual Camp “I Am Me” in Ingleside, Illinois. The burn camp, which is organized by the nonprofit Illinois Fire Safety Alliance (IFSA) and hosted at YMCA Camp Duncan, provides burn survivors between the ages of eight and 16 with typical camp activities as well as special activities that deal with the specific needs of burn survivors. And although the cost to send one child to camp is $2,400, the camp is provided free of charge to the campers thanks to the generosity of donors.

“These children are burned due to various circumstances, such as scalding water, chemicals, fire, or electricity. Unfortunately, they only represent a small portion of the hundreds of Illinois children that are burned each year, but we continuously work with the hospital burn units to create awareness and reach more children. Our goal is to give this free opportunity to every burn-injured child in Illinois.”

In addition to having fun with the usual camp activities, the young burn survivors attend activities that include character development, journaling and therapeutic sessions.. These activities occur in a nonjudgmental environment that allows them to learn from themselves and others, discovering new ways to heal and build self-esteem. These are resources and outlets that some campers do not have in their own communities.

“Many kids think they are all alone in their recovery from a burn. They may be teased by others in their hometowns because of their burn scars — scars which may be both physical and emotional,” notes Zaleski. “But camp helps shows these children they are not alone and they don’t have to be afraid to be themselves. It tends to have a positive and lasting impact on young burn survivors’ lives.”

In fact, over one-third of camp volunteers each year are former campers. In addition, members of the fire service and medical community, as well as educators and members of the private sector, volunteer their time for a total of nearly one volunteer for each camper.

On Wednesday, June 22, guests are welcome to attend Appreciation Day that will begin at 11:00 a.m. with a fire apparatus parade, signaled by the blare of sirens from fire trucks and equipment from throughout the state arriving at camp. The parade will be followed by lunch at noon and a ceremony at 1:00 p.m. to thank donors, supporters and volunteers. Later in the day, campers will enjoy the Fun Fair, which features carnival games, face painting, dunk tanks, bounce houses, prizes and more.

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Tinley Park 5K run

 

‘Run for Your Life’ Safety 5K Run/Walk

The Tinley Park Fire Department and the nationally accredited Tinley Park Fire Prevention Bureau will host the second annual Run for Your Life Safety 5K at 8:30 a.m. Sunday, May 4 at the 80th Avenue Metra train station, 18001 S. 80th Ave., Tinley Park.

The event will again raise money for the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance’s Camp I Am Me, which is the first accredited burn camp in the United States for children ages 8 to 16 who are burn survivors. Last year, the event raised more than $13,000 for the camp through sponsorships and participation.

The run begins promptly at 8:30 a.m., and race-day registration begins at 7 a.m. Participants can park and register in the station’s south parking lot. Packets will be given prior to the start of the run.

Preregistration costs $20 and closes at 3 p.m. April 25. Registration after April 25 costs $25, and family registration costs $50. Completed registration forms must be submitted for each participant. T-shirts and a commemorative fire patch will be given to all preregistered participants.

To register, click here or download the registration form here and send it to:

Tinley Park Fire Prevention Bureau

Attn: Life Safety 5k Run/Walk

17355 S. 68th Court

Tinley Park, IL 60477

Participants also can drop off their registration forms in person from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays at the above address.

If you are interested in becoming a sponsor for this event, click here.

For more information, call (708) 444-5200.

TPK

thanks Kevin

 

 

 

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