A Roundtrip Healing Adventure for Camp Susquehanna Youths

The saying “Getting there is half the fun” doesn’t apply to most bus rides. It’s more about getting the trip over with. We pop in our earbuds and hope someone will “wake me when it’s over.”

But for youth burn survivors attending Camp Susquehanna—and the many volunteers helping out along the way—the bus ride to and from camp really can be a healing adventure to treasure for a lifetime.

A chance to “just be a kid”
Many young burn survivors face overwhelming physical challenges, as well as emotional trauma, social ostracism, and bullying. These difficulties can diminish growth and learning options or even take away the chance to “just be a kid.”

Camp Susquehanna, a sleepaway summer camp experience for youth burn survivors, exists to change that equation. A program of the 501(c)(3) nonprofit Burn Prevention Network, Camp Susquehanna is an extraordinary support environment where children can have a blast, connect with burn survivor peers, and build confidence as they practice essential social and life skills.

Thanks to the generosity of donors and volunteers, including many medical and fire service professionals, the Camp Susquehanna experience is completely free to campers and their families. Participants can also take advantage of free roundtrip bus transportation to and from camp from several burn centers, fire houses, and other locations across the state, including Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Lewistown, and Lehigh Valley. The final destination is beautiful Camp Westmont in the Poconos.

Besides saving families the hassle of a long-distance drive, the bus rides to and from Camp Susquehanna are an exciting, inspiring event that campers, volunteers, and staff look forward to tremendously.

We asked three volunteers what makes these Camp Susquehanna bus stops special, and why they choose to help make these experiences possible for youth burn survivors year after year. Here are their stories.

Chief James Blount, William Cameron Engine Company, Lewisburg, PA
The William Cameron Engine Company fire house is a lunch stop for campers and their chaperones traveling to Camp Susquehanna from the Pittsburgh area, as well as a pickup spot for local campers. Fire Chief James Blount is an enthusiastic supporter of the event for both personal and professional reasons.

Most of the time, burn victims and the firefighters who aid them only interact during the emergency. A pizza or cookout lunch together is pretty special for everyone.

“We try to create a relaxed environment where our firefighters and the kids can interact, ask questions, and start building connections,” explains Chief Blount. “Of course, we also offer the children a tour of the station and show them the equipment.” Spending time with the kids lets the firefighters see firsthand some of the success stories that come from all their hard work and commitment. In this line of work, there are a lot of tragic stories as well.

Chief Blount knows exactly what it feels like for a child to experience the terror and chaos of a house fire. At the age of five, he and his mother came home one morning to find their family home ablaze.

Chief Blount recalls: “The kitchen was on fire and it was spreading into the living room. And my brother and father were both asleep in the house. Fortunately, my mom made enough noise to wake my father. I remember him running through the thick black smoke out the front door holding my little brother. Then all of a sudden, a big red firetruck pulled up in front of the house, sirens flashing… and the smoke and fire went away. From that moment on, the only thing I wanted to do with my life was to be a firefighter.”

The bus is on a tight schedule, and the stop only lasts an hour or so. But the volunteers pack in as much engagement as they can.

“The community, the kids—they’re the reason we’re here,” shares Chief Blount. “They’ve already been through a traumatic experience that involved emergency services. We want to balance that with an experience that’s memorable in a positive light, that they can look back on for years to come.”

“The more fire departments support Burn Prevention Network and similar programs, the more successful our collective mission is going to be,” Chief Blount reframes. “Having lunch with those young men and women… it might not sound like much on the surface but it’s a huge highlight for us. It re-energizes our purpose. It reminds us why we’re here.”

Judith Murga, a Human Resources Manager for Target
As the Human Resources Manager for Target, Judith Murga is no stranger to helping others. She’s also Target’s Community Engagement Captain for the district.

Like many of her fellow volunteers, Judith connected with Burn Prevention Network and their Camp Susquehanna program through the passion and enthusiasm of a friend.“A few years back I met my friend Jonathan for drinks after work, and we were talking about our plans for the summer,” remembers Judith. “He was super excited about this camp he was going to. He just couldn’t stop talking about camp, camp, camp. What he said and how he felt was so compelling, I decided to get involved myself right then and there.”

Judith jumped right in by having Target provide lunch at the Camp Susquehanna bus stop for the Lehigh Valley area, which takes place at the Lower Macungie fire house in Wescosville, PA. She also got football players from nearby Lafayette College to join in.

2025 will be Judith’s third year volunteering at the Lehigh Valley lunch stop, and her enthusiasm just keeps growing along with her contribution.

“Kids are just excited for hamburgers and hotdogs anyway,” Judith describes. “But when they see the firetruck, they really get wide-eyed. You know they’ve all gone through something horrific, and at first your heart hurts for them. But then you realize they aren’t letting that trauma hold them back from enjoying their summer. It’s heartwarming to see that childhood innocence and how thrilled they are to climb on a firetruck and hang out with the firefighters. And who doesn’t love hot dogs? It really is such a great time.”

In her role as Community Engagement Captain, it’s Judith’s job to recommend worthy local programs and organizations to receive grants through Target’s Community Engagement Funds. For 2025, Target awarded Burn Prevention Network a $10,000 grant to support Camp Susquehanna.

“I remember as a kid going to summer camp and how much fun that was,” adds Judith. “So, of course I want to help make that experience available to as many children as possible.”

Angela Pistoria, Physician Assistant, Lehigh Valley Health Network Regional Burn Center
Why would a medical professional and mother who works at a burn center want to spend time on a bus chaperoning young burn injury victims in her scarce free time?

For Angela (Angie) Pistoria, Physician Assistant at Lehigh Valley Health Network’s Regional Burn Center, the motivation is two-fold.

“When we’re treating burns acutely in the hospital, it’s all about the medical management and just getting them through it,” reflects Angie. “But my experience is that once burn patients become burn survivors and they’re on the other side, we as care providers can learn a lot from them. Their feedback on their care experience can be invaluable.”

“The other reason I’m so excited to volunteer is it’s just really healthy for me to see the kids having a good life,” Angie continues. “Sometimes when you’re taking care of these severely burned patients, especially children, you wonder how they’re going to make it. Seeing them having fun together helps me continue to do what I do.”

Camp Susquehanna 2025 will be Angie’s first as a bus chaperone.

“I’m hoping my experiences will encourage my professional colleagues to get out there and volunteer with burn victims—whether it’s at Camp Susquehanna or some other event,” concludes Angie. “I’m definitely very excited to finally do it myself!”

More about Camp Susquehanna
Camp Susquehanna is a sleepaway summer camp experience for youths ages seven to twenty-one who were treated at a Pennsylvania Burn Center. The camp is a program of the Burn Prevention Network, a Pennsylvania statewide 501(c)(3) non-profit with the mission of reducing the risk of burns and empowering burn survivors and their families.

Camp Susquehanna participants vary widely in age and abilities, so activities are tailored towards each camper’s unique needs. Kids can choose from an enviable variety of activities, including a ropes course, climbing wall, towed tubing, fishing, swimming, music, skits, arts and crafts, cooking, campfires, and much more.

2025 marks Camp Susquehanna’s 31st year. It is currently held at beautiful Camp Westmont in Poyntelle, PA. Surrounded by wooded hills and a private lake in the heart of the Pocono Mountains, indoor amenities include first-class dining facilities and air-conditioned cabins. The kids couldn’t ask for a finer setting for their adventures!

For more information about Camp Susquehanna, including volunteer application and donation links, please visit www.burnprevention.org/camp-susquehanna.