Burned children are catching hope in Oklahoma
SUMMER CAMPBURNED CHILDREN GET CHANCE AT FUN AT FIREFIGHTERS’ CAMP

Heather Warlick-Moore Comments 2
Published: August 3, 2009

At camp, scars don’t matter, said Scotty Stokes. He is the founder and director of the Oklahoma Firefighters Burn Camp, a five-day summer camp where kids who have suffered burns or other traumatic events that have left scars can escape finger-pointing and name-calling and act just like any other child.

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"It lets them be the popular kid for the week,” Stokes said. This summer marks the camp’s 11th year, and this year’s burn camp runs Aug. 12-16.

Located at Dry Gulch U.S.A., just north of Pryor, the camp is sponsored by the Tulsa Firefighters Educational Clowns, an organization of volunteers who promote safety to children through clowning.

The camp is free for the 60 to 70 campers who participate each year. Each camper is teamed with a counselor for the week. Stokes said he’s always amazed at how many people volunteer their time and resources to make the camp happen.

That is probably most evident during the camp’s fishing day. Each camper is paired with a volunteer boater for a day of fishing on Lake Hudson.

"Some of these kids have had a tough time over the last few years, but they’re just like any other kids — they love to go fishing and take a boat ride,” said Gene Gilliland of Norman, a volunteer who got involved with the burn camp through his bass fishing club. Gilliland also was one of 68 volunteers who recently came together to take more than 100 kids from Oklahoma Children’s Hospital fishing at Lake Texoma during Camp Cavett, which offers outdoor experiences to children undergoing treatments for chronic illnesses.

"Both the volunteers and kids have a great time. It is something we all look forward to,” Gilliland said.

Stokes said he has lots of campers from Tulsa and surrounding areas but few from Oklahoma City. He encourages kids in need in the area to call and sign up for the free camp. The camp has enough volunteers for this summer, but Stokes said anyone interested in helping next year as a counselor or with financial contributions should contact him. To sign up for camp or volunteer, call Stokes at (918) 371-6351. Boaters interested in donating their time and the use of their boats can call Kristi Collins at (918) 830-4631.