Camp Amigo staff, burn survivors visit Tyndall

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Veronica McMahon
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  More than 40 burn survivors attending a week-long burn victim camp in Cape San Blas, Fla. visited Tyndall to see the aircraft and have lunch with firefighters July 15.

Visiting the base is just one of the events the campers participate in during their stay at Camp Amigo.

"Our camp is different from other camps because it is much more like family life" said Mr. Rusty Roberts, Camp Amigo president. "The camp consists of support groups, coping skills, and helping the survivors deal with everything they've been through."

Camp Amigo exists to provide kids who have physical and emotional scars a place to be themselves and build a network of support that will last throughout their lives. The camp is fully funded by private donations and the campers stay free of charge.

The camp began years ago when the Tallahassee Firefighters attended camps run by the Southeast Burn Foundation in Florida. Mr. Roberts was one of those firefighters and one year, he decided that the North Florida area needed to have a camp too. With the help of several of his friends, the Tallahassee Firefighters had the first camp at Cape San Blas in 2001. It then became an annual event.

"I like the camp, it's real fun," said Adam Taylor, a 16-year-old burn survivor of Crystal River, Fla. "It's exciting to come to Tyndall for a new experience. I like to see the aircraft and see what the military is using."

The children at the camp are each paired with a counselor, some of whom are burn survivors as well. The other additional counselors are mostly firefighters and nurses.

"It's hard to pick a favorite part of the camp, but it's great to see how happy the campers are because they realize there are other survivors out there," said Cassie Null, burn survivor and counselor. "They get to meet people in their position."

Cassie has been attending the camp since it began ten years ago and now works as a counselor. She said it's a good opportunity for them to make friends as well.

"I love all the people, there is never a boring moment," said 12-year-old burn survivor Reina Smith of Panama City. "I really liked seeing the F-22 and I've been meeting a lot of new friends. It's really fun."

After the campers got a close look at the F-22 Raptor and the F-15 Eagle, they ate lunch at the fire station and then went to Shipwreck Island on Panama City Beach with some of the firefighters.

"It's great to see them getting out of the house and seeing smiles on their faces," said Michael Newbury, 325th Civil Engineering Squadron fire inspector. "One of the counselors said some of these children have never left the house before this."

Mr. Newbury said this is the third year they have worked with the camp, but this is the first time the campers have been on the base.

Some of the counselors agreed this is an amazing experience for the survivors and will continue to participate in the coming years.