Each year many children in the world suffer major burns and other traumatic injuries that cause disfiguration and disabilities. In the United States we have several camps just for the purpose of helping these children cope with their injuries. The general name is Burn Camp but all have an individual name. In Oklahoma ours is the Oklahoma Firefighter’s Burn Camp (OKFFBC).
OKFFBC is designed to offer children from ages 6 to 16 that have suffered major burns or disfiguring injuries a place of unconditional love and acceptance. We show these children that scars and disabilities do not limit their successes in life. Also provided are fun team building activities that let the children work and play together.
OKFFBC is a five day summer camp held in August each year at Camp Dry Gulch U.S.A. Located in Adair, OK, and owned by Church On The Move. Overlooking Lake Hudson, with it’s old west setting, its as if John Wayne himself could come around the corner at anytime.
Dry Gulch has everything we need to make camp successful and fun. All bunk areas are fully air conditioned with each having it’s own bathroom facilities. They have a water park, Go-carts, full size theatre, old steam engine train, blow up games, horses, lake with various activities, and much, much more. Their dining facility is always very clean, with good food and a great staff. All this makes Dry Gulch, U.S.A. like no other camp in the country. They go above and beyond in every aspect of our camp experience each year.
The first day of camp is held at Safari Joe’s Animal Park in Adair where the kids interact with animals and enjoy a great lunch provided by the Wagoner Firefighters. Later that evening we move onto Dry Gulch.
Saturday is fishing and lake activities day held at Lake Shore R.V. Park in Salina. This day starts early and is fun filled with more than 30 professional fishermen and ladies taking the kids fishing along with their counselors. Also, provided that day are wake boarding, bow fishing, bow shooting, kayaking and a great fish fry for more than 200 people provided by Salina, Pryor, Adair, Big Bluff, and Chimney Rock Fire Departments. This day is topped off by the camp dance, which is always theme based and lots of fun.
Sunday is family day. Families of the campers come to enjoy the closing ceremony and watch their children receive awards, meet the counselors and staff, and hear stories of another great year at Oklahoma Firefighter’s Burn Camp.
