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Cool day at Camp Hopetake

 
Logan Nelson, 12, of Punta Gorda, who survived being burned while he and friends were playing with matches and gasoline,   splashes camp counselor and Tampa Firefighter Jeremy Finney in the wave pool during Camp Hopetake's field trip to  Adventure Island, Tampa Wednesday, June 11, 2014. Camp Hopet‡ke is a week-long, sleep away summer camp for children ages 5-17 that have survived a burn injury. Hopet‡ke is the Seminole Indian word for “children”. Camp Hopet‡ke is free-of-charge to the campers and is financially supported by the fundraising efforts of Tampa General Hospital, the Tampa General Hospital Foundation and Tampa Firefighters Local 754. All counselors at Camp Hopet‡ke are either TGH employees (primarily registered nurses) or Tampa Firefighters. The camp provides a safe, comfortable, supportive environment for the kids to share their feelings and experiences with others that truly understand what they have been through. It also provides a support system for these kids for the rest of their lives. Each year, approximately 40 children from Camp Hopetake, a free weeklong camp for children with burn injuries,  take a field trip to Adventure Island for a day of water fun. Camp Hopetake, is celebrating it's  24th year.  The campers stay in the USF Tampa dorms and go on different outings each day.  CHERIE DIEZ   |   Times
Logan Nelson, 12, of Punta Gorda, who survived being burned while he and friends were playing with matches and gasoline, splashes camp counselor and Tampa Firefighter Jeremy Finney in the wave pool during Camp Hopetake's field trip to Adventure Island, Tampa Wednesday, June 11, 2014. Camp Hopet‡ke is a week-long, sleep away summer camp for children ages 5-17 that have survived a burn injury. Hopet‡ke is the Seminole Indian word for “children”. Camp Hopet‡ke is free-of-charge to the campers and is financially supported by the fundraising efforts of Tampa General Hospital, the Tampa General Hospital Foundation and Tampa Firefighters Local 754. All counselors at Camp Hopet‡ke are either TGH employees (primarily registered nurses) or Tampa Firefighters. The camp provides a safe, comfortable, supportive environment for the kids to share their feelings and experiences with others that truly understand what they have been through. It also provides a support system for these kids for the rest of their lives. Each year, approximately 40 children from Camp Hopetake, a free weeklong camp for children with burn injuries, take a field trip to Adventure Island for a day of water fun. Camp Hopetake, is celebrating it's 24th year. The campers stay in the USF Tampa dorms and go on different outings each day. CHERIE DIEZ | Times
Published June 12, 2014

CHERIE DIEZ | Times

Logan Nelson, 12, of Punta Gorda, who survived being burned while he and friends were playing with matches and gasoline, splashes camp counselor and Tampa firefighter Jeremy Finney in the wave pool Wednesday during Camp Hopetake's field trip to Adventure Island in Tampa. Camp Hopetake, named for the Seminole Indian word for "children," is a weeklong, sleep-away summer camp for children ages 5-17 who have survived burn injuries. The free camp is paid for by the fundraising efforts of Tampa General Hospital, the Tampa General Hospital Foundation and Tampa Firefighters Local 754. All counselors at the camp are either TGH employees or Tampa firefighters. The camp, in its 24th year, provides a safe, comfortable, supportive environment for the kids to share their feelings and experiences with others who truly understand what they have been through.