Many thanks to FLRBA Board of Director and Vice-President of Norcross Aviation Chris Di Chario and Sam Cooper, Public Relations Director of the Greater Rochester International Airport for hosting a sleepover at the airport. The event provided an opportunity for summer burn camp youth to reunite and have some fun. Activities at the event included greeting an arriving flight, meeting the pilots and getting a tour of the aircraft. Volunteers from Pet-Assisted Therapy brought their service dogs to demonstrate their skills and share their affection. The Rochester Fire Department Axemen, Wegmans, Romeo’s Restaurant and FLRBA Directors and volunteers Matt & Wibke Klapetzky and Greg Merrick helped provide food, face painting, transportation and supervision.

This year’s theme was Connections with the goals of providing a getaway weekend to connect with old friends and make some new ones; learn about connecting our mind and body to address stress, trauma and move towards healing and wellness; and connecting dollars and sense with a discussion on short and long term financial health.  Dr. Danielle Fraenkel of LivingDance and Director of Kinections, Inc. provided a seminar on how movement helps the brain find balance and insight. Andrew Bartholomew, a Certified Financial Planner, facilitated the discussion on financial health. Both Danielle and Andrew are well respected in their fields and both are burn survivors. Saturday evening provided a social opportunity and live music provided by singer/songwriter Connie Deming.

The overall retreat was co-facilitated by Paul Schwartzman, FLRBA Executive Director and Psychotherapist, Kelly Reed-Plasse and Matt Klapetzky, who are both burn nurses and have developed and facilitated FLRBA youth and adult programs for several years.