The impact of burn camp reaches far beyond a single week.

Camp Courage Camper of the Year Angel and Firefighter of the Year Matt, of Sedona Fire District, recently represented Arizona at the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) International Burn Camp in Edgewater, Maryland. Each year, the program brings together young burn survivors and firefighter mentors from across the United States and Canada for an experience centered on leadership, personal growth, connection, and empowerment.

Chosen by their Camp Courage peers for their leadership, positivity, and impact on those around them, Angel and Matt brought the spirit of Arizona’s burn community with them to Maryland.

For Angel, the trip was an exciting opportunity to meet new people, experience a new burn camp community, and create lasting memories.

Matt was especially struck by Angel’s ability to connect with everyone he met, as well as the familiar sense of community he found among fellow campers and firefighters.

“The camp and its people were just as wonderful and helpful as ours and have strangely enough become an extension of our family.”

Their experience was a reminder that the connections formed through burn camp don’t end when camp does. Programs like Camp Courage and IAFF International Burn Camp give young burn survivors opportunities to build confidence, form meaningful relationships, and discover a community of support that extends far beyond their hometown.

We’re proud of Angel and Matt for representing Camp Courage and Arizona, and grateful to the many firefighters, volunteers, supporters, families, and burn survivors who make this community so special.