This week marks the opening of the Israel Burn Camp for Children – the first camp for pediatric burn survivors of its kind – at a kibbutz on the shores of the Sea of Galilee in the Middle East.
The camp, which officially opened March 31, is a project of the Burn Advocates Network (BAN), a nonprofit organization based in Teaneck.
Sam Davis, founding director of BAN, has made it his mission to develop a successful program for children to come together and learn to play specialized musical instruments despite disabling injuries.
“Our Drum Circle will be the first for any burn camp and will offer the children an opportunity to experience the healing powers of music,” Davis says.
The camp will host children from Jewish, Muslim and Christian backgrounds. Social workers and burn specialists will be on hand to discuss the many obstacles burn survivors face.
Volunteers include therapists, doctors and nurses from the burn units at five area hospitals.
Twenty-five children will benefit from what is expected to be an annual event.
“After spending time with burn survivors, your perspective changes,” Davis says. “They will be facing tremendous challenges for the rest of their lives.”
The children, who receive extensive treatment at surrounding hospitals, will participate in a variety of confidence building activities including horseback riding, archery, ropes courses, music and movement programs, and arts and crafts. BAN is also providing Strumsticks, specialized string instruments with adaptive picks for children missing digits and limbs.
For more information about the IBCC or BAN, contact Sam Davis at (201) 220-3908 or sam@burnadvocates.org.
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Apr 3, 2009 9:00 AM
Children’s burn camp opens in Israel
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