Camp Celebrate

Camp Celebrate is a weekend camp for burn survivors ages 7-15 (campers) and select survivors ages 16-18 (Counselors in Training; by application only) who have survived burn injuries. Created in 1982 in response to an inability to find traditional camping opportunities for a group of young burn patients at the North Carolina Jaycee Burn Center, Camp Celebrate was the first camping experience of its kind. Most campers have been treated at the Burn Center, but Camp Celebrate is open to any pediatric burn survivor in North Carolina.

Activities include swimming, canoeing, arts and crafts, fishing, an annual Sunday family picnic, as well as an opportunity to meet other kids who share the experience of having been burned. A number of campers return year after year, and some have returned as adults to serve as counselors and share their experiences and knowledge with the children.

Volunteers from across the state, including firefighters and Jaycees, join the Burn Center staff in providing campers a fun and enriching experience by serving as counselors, program staff, counselor-in-training mentors, and logistics assistants.

Camp organizers depend on the support of individuals as well as businesses and civic organizations. There are a variety of opportunities to help make Camp Celebrate a success. If you have a specific talent, skill, or idea that may be appropriate for Camp Celebrate, please contact us because we would love to hear from you.

Teen burn survivors, ages 16-18, can serve as Counselors-in-Training. The program began in 2006 and is designed to contribute to the teen’s personal growth and responsibility. Those interested are asked to apply and are chosen based on leadership and characteristics representative of being a positive role model to younger campers. The Camp Celebrate staff is hopeful that such a training program will result in more campers returning as volunteer counselors.

For more information, please contact Aftercare at email burn_aftercare@med.unc.edu or call  919-962-8427 or refer to our Contacts page.