BRG’s Camp Catahoula Gives Young Burn Survivors a Place to Heal
BATON ROUGE, La. – A group of 50 pediatric burn survivors from across the state are headed to Baton Rouge General’s Camp Catahoula, a free, weeklong camp held annually in Lawrence, Miss. In its eighth year, Camp Catahoula provides summer fun like swimming, fishing, horseback riding and games along with the chance for burn survivors to share their experiences with other survivors who have faced the same trauma, all as part of the healing process.
Camp Catahoula is staffed by volunteers from Baton Rouge General -- nurses, physical and occupational therapists, social workers, and even a chef – as well as the Baton Rouge Fire Department and the Louisiana State Police. Parents of young burn survivors and adult burn survivors also volunteer at camp.
Campers will enjoy an action-packed week, including a ropes course, archery, karaoke and a glow party, cooking competitions and team relay games. They’ll also have the chance to do arts and crafts, and join in various small groups to share their stories.
Several organizations support the BRG Foundation by raising funds to send local children to Camp Catahoula without any expense to their families, with Shell as the primary sponsor. Other supporters include Baton Rouge State Fair Foundation, The Boo Grigsby Foundation, Brother’s Keepers, DonahueFavret, F45 City Square, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Professional Firefighters Association of Louisiana, Spanish Town Ladies Auxiliary, many adult burn survivors, generous donors, and current and former staff.
“Camp Catahoula creates a unique opportunity for young burn survivors to build confidence, make new friends, and enjoy experiences that many will remember for a lifetime,” said JJ Howell, Shell Geismar Vice President. “Shell is proud to support Baton Rouge General and the dedicated volunteers who make this camp possible.”
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About Baton Rouge General Medical Center
Baton Rouge General Medical Center is the area’s first community hospital with over 600 licensed beds between three campuses. Baton Rouge General opened its doors in 1900, and has provided the Greater Baton Rouge community with high-quality healthcare for generations. An accredited teaching hospital since 1991, Baton Rouge General is affiliated with several medical school programs, and offers other medical education programs, including a School of Nursing, School of Radiologic Technology, Family Medicine Residency Program and Internal Medicine Residency Program. For more information, visit BRGeneral.org, find us on Facebook at Facebook.com/BatonRougeGeneral and follow us on Twitter @BRGeneral and Instagram @batonrougegeneral.
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