Back Home Again (in Indiana)

I’ve returned home from another year at Hoosier Burn Camp - a medical speciality camp for kids who have been treated for burn injuries in the state of Indiana.
I am not a burn survivor, but HBC is held every year at the summer camp I attended as a kid: Camp Tecumseh YMCA in Brookston, Indiana. I got involved 8 years ago and have recommitted year after year (pandemic time not included!)

It’s always a blast in major part to a largely volunteer staff force. I find that it’s a wonderful way to keep camp alive in my heart and share it with the next generation.

For the past few years, I’ve been in charge of the Creative Arts Center (CAC - everything has an acronym in Camp World). This year, we worked with a tufting gun to make little mug rugs for everyone. It was a total hit and we loved our results. But my favorite thing was what the kids got up to waiting for their turn to tuft.

I have a little pom pom frog that a camper made me years ago. Some of the kids decided to make him some friends and a pond to relax in - a whole world just for pom pom frog.

Pom Pom Frog pictured with Paper Toad, Paper Fish, Lily, Duct Tape Mug, Paper Boat, Pond, and tufted background.

These smaller camp moments are what keep me coming back. Making a small, temporary community and just going with it. That’s the best thing about being a kid and I’m grateful that camp lets me play a small part in it each year.