The Magic of Showing Up: Volunteerism & Burn Camp with Madeleine Carson

In this special National Volunteer Week episode of Girls with Grafts, we welcome Madeleine Carson, Director of Programs at Burns Recovered and our Volunteer of the Month. We talk about the power of community, connection, and supporting others. 🤝 Madeleine shares how she became involved in the burn survivor community—including a full-circle moment where Amber, who works at United Rentals, became part of a meaningful connection: United Rentals reached out to Madeleine at Burns Recovered to support a survivor, Amber was looped into the conversation, and together they helped move the project forward. It’s a fun, unexpected example of how small connections within our community can come together to make a real impact. Rachel and Madeleine also talk about the many programs Burns Recovered offers, including pediatric burn camps, adult retreats, and family events. They also talk about Madeleine’s role as Board President of the International Association of Burn Camps (IABC) and how working together across the burn community helps more people access these important experiences. 🏕️ The heart of this episode is the special feeling of burn camp. These camps help people form lifelong friendships, build confidence, and remind survivors they are not alone. Whether you are a volunteer, a survivor, or someone interested in helping, this conversation shows how powerful it is to show up, support others, and be part of something bigger. 💛 #BurnSurvivor #GirlsWithGrafts #Podcast #SurvivorPodcast #BurnSurvivorStories ⭐️ Enjoyed the show? Tell us by leaving a 5-star review and sharing on social media using hashtag #GirlswithGrafts and tagging Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors! Meet Our Guest Madeleine Carson is originally from Maryland but has called St. Louis, Missouri her home for the past 16 years. She is a clinically trained social worker and has been serving as the director of programs with Burns Recovered since 2019. Madeleine was drawn to the burn survivor community after learning about the existence of burn camps for pediatric burn survivors. Madeleine is a camp kid at heart, having attended and then worked at the same day camp in suburban Maryland for 14 consecutive summers. Madeleine is not a burn survivor herself, but she understands the healing power of being part of a community of people with shared lived experience. Since joining Burns Recovered in 2019, she has made it her mission to create open and compassionate spaces for burn survivors of all ages to gather and support one another such as a week-long pediatric burn camp, weekend-long retreats for adult burn survivors and young-adult burn survivors and a weekend-long family camp. In her free time, Madeleine serves as the Board President of the International Association of Burn Camps (IABC). Madeleine enjoys baking bread, reading, and lounging on the couch with her old dogs, Enzo and Tesla. She is so excited to watch World Cup Soccer this summer and to attend a game in Kansas City for her 40th birthday! Links Get in contact with Madeline Carson at: https://brsg.org/contact-us/ Learn more about Burns Recovered: https://brsg.org/ Learn more about their upcoming “Adult LIFE Retreat:” https://brsg.org/events/adult-retreat/ Learn more about the IABC: https://iaburncamps.org/ Explore the IABC’s directory: https://iaburncamps.org/camp-directory/ Get involved with Phoenix Society: https://resources.phoenix-society.org/phoenix-volunteer-week Podcast Sponsor Today’s podcast is powered by Jensen Hughes! Since 1939, Jensen Hughes has been a global leader in fire protection engineering and safety solutions. Jensen Hughes combines expert knowledge, innovative strategies, and groundbreaking research to help clients protect lives, property, and reputations—making the world a safer, more resilient place. Interested in becoming a sponsor of the show? Email us at info@phoenix-society.org.