Family Camp is weekend-long overnight camp that provides an opportunity for burn survivors and their families to spend time with others who have gone through similar experiences.

Family Camp is open to burn survivors of any age and their family members.  Family members must reside in the home of the burn survivor to attend.  Exceptions will be made on a case-by-case basis.

Family Camp 2023 is scheduled for Friday, September 29, 2023 to Sunday, October 1, 2023.

Camp Taum Sauk
99 Country Road, 368
Lesterville, Missouri 63654.

As of January 2023, Burns Recovered will continue to practice mitigation strategies such as health screening, washing hands frequently, and testing when a participant is symptomatic. This is not an exhaustive list and COVID-related practices will likely change prior to the start of the camp session. Camp leadership will maintain an open channel of communication about these practices and will share updates with caregivers as they become available.

Nothing. Camp is made possible by generous donations. Family campers are only required to bring their own clothing and supplies.

Families are transported to camp at no cost to camp families. Chartered transportation will transport the campers to camp from St. Louis, Kansas City, Columbia, Rolla, and Springfield. Families can indicate their transportation preference on their camp application.

Families can select to stay in a private cabin or can select to share a cabin with another family. Families can make their selections on their camp application. Family units must stay together, whether sharing a cabin with another family or staying in a private cabin.

Family Camp Staff comprises full-time employees of Burns Recovered, full-time employees of Camp Taum Sauk, and volunteers with Burns Recovered. All staff members, regardless of employment status, undergo training and a background check prior to serving at Family Camp.

Burns Recovered collects dietary information on each family member during the camp application process. This information is shared with the kitchen staff at Camp Taum Sauk to make sure meals are planned with these dietary restrictions in mind.

Burns Recovered will provide a medical professional with at least a license to practice as a paramedic in the state of Missouri. This medical professional will be available 24 hours a day to address any medical needs that surpass the training of the adults in any one Family Camp unit.

Adult camp participants are responsible for bringing, storing, and administering their own medication and medication to the minors in their care that weekend. Burns Recovered will have a limited supply of first aid items and OTC medications but it is the primary responsibilities of the adults coming to Family Camp to make sure they have what they need to participate in the weekend safely and to continue any care instructions of their medical provider while they are at camp. Burns Recovered will provide access to a refrigerator in the case that a family needs to keep medication cold.

Most Camp Activities will be facilitated by Camp Taum Sauk staff.  Camp Taum Sauk (www.taumsauk.com) is currently accredited through the American Camping Association and requires activity facilitators to be appropriately trained and licensed in their respective activity areas.

Activities offered at Camp Taum Sauk include:

• Riflery
• Archery
• Arts & Crafts
• High Ropes Challenge Course
• Nature
• River activities (kayaking, tubing, floating, paddle boarding)
• Hiking
• Fishing

Additionally, once a day there is a time where the adults and young people are separated.  At this time, the adults will join our Community Support Specialist for adult-specific burn survivorship programming, and young people will get to choose an activity to engage in.  These activities are supervised and facilitated by Family Camp staff.

Except for the time mentioned above where adults and young people are separated, the adult in the Family Unit is responsible for the supervision and management of the children in their car for the duration of the weekend. Family Camp staff do not assume sole responsibility for the safety or behavior management of minor participants at any point during the weekend.

Program participants are permitted to have their phones with them for personal use but please keep in mind that one of the beneficial outcomes that a program like ours offers is the development of communication and problem-solving. Unfortunately, a ready cell phone can be an immediate and easy distraction that not only reduces the potential for growth through challenge, but removes the participant from their group, the camp, and the experience they are engaged in.