In the summer of 1994, Michigan native Chris Klavon volunteered his time as a counselor for a special camp in Minnesota. The camp was a place where children, who had suffered from burns, were free from the common stares they received on a daily basis.

But the children were not the only ones that received those awkward glances. Chris did too. There was a common bond between Chris and the children. Both were learning to cope with the aftermath of of being burned while simultaneously learning to live life to the fullest. And while this camp experience was a wonderful one for Chris, he also felt a sense of emptiness. He felt empty because there was no camp like that for children in Michigan.

By December of that year, Chris had assembled a group of individuals to explore the possibilities of starting a special burn camp in Michigan. Within months of that first meeting, a camp site had been identified. Burn centers, firefighters and private citizens from across the state had donated time and money.

After countless hours of hard work and planning, Great Lakes Burn Camp (GLBC) became a reality on August 13, 1995.
Forty-five children attended that first summer. It was a celebration of happiness, healing, hope and life. As Great Lakes Burn Camp plans for future camps, we are proud to have served over 900 burn injured children. The staff, consisting mainly of unpaid volunteers, hail from all over the United States. And in addition to its annual Summer Camps, GLBC has hosted nine winter retreats.

The future of GLBC shines bright. We continue to have fresh ideas and new volunteers join our family each year. And with the help of so many wonderful people, the children who attend GLBC receive the best camp experience possible.

We hope that GLBC will always be a place where kids will find solace and acceptance. A place where everyone is beautiful inside and out!

Great Lakes Burn Camp Brochure - PDF 1.2MB

PO Box 6189, Jackson MI 49204-6189 - 1-800-989-2571