To many kids at summer camp, putting on a bathing suit may not be a big deal, but at Camp Bucko, for some children it signifies a big step.

Camp Bucko is a week-long camp for children, ages seven to 17, who are burn survivors. Located near Minden, Ont., the camp has activities including canoeing, kayaking, fishing, hiking, optional therapeutic chat sessions, arts and crafts, drama and land sports.

Dcor on a Dime furniture consignment shop and Paramount Expressfit want to help send a child to Camp Bucko and are holding a garage sale Saturday, May 24, with 100 per cent of the proceeds going to Camp Bucko.

Michelle Loma, owner of Dcor on a Dime, said her clients sign an agreement that if their items are not sold or reclaimed within four months, they go to charity. The garage sale will include these unclaimed items, as well as other donations.

Nancy Sinclair, director of Camp Bucko, is excited about the sale.

"I think it will be awesome, even just to get the word out too," she said, adding more than 12 children from the Hamilton area attend the camp.

Ms. Sinclair is a volunteer, as is the entire camp board of directors and all counsellors. The camp has one part-time paid employee.

Fundraising is very important, as it costs more than $1,200 to send a child to camp for a week, as well as to two long-weekend family camps in the spring and fall.

"The family camps are an important part, because it is hard for parents to send a child to camp if they've been injured in the home or recently. The family camp is a bridge to getting the child involved in camp," Ms. Sinclair said.

With donations, the camp can fully fund each child attending camp, transportation to and from camp and provide each child with a camp shirt. Nurses, physiotherapists, firefighters, adult burn survivors and burn support staff also attend camp.

"At camp, the kids are one of the gang. They don't stand out because of their injury. They stand out because they climbed a rock wall or won a kayaking race. They just belong," Ms. Sinclair said. "It's a relief to not have to worry about someone pointing or laughing. This increases their self-esteem and its something we hope they take with them for the rest of the year. If things are hard, they can remember their friends at camp."

The garage sale to support Camp Bucko will take place at Dcor on a Dime, at Nebo and Rymal roads, May 24 (rain date May 25), 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

For information on Camp Bucko, to make a donation or to inquire about volunteering for one week in August 2009, call Nancy Sinclair at (647) 282-8256 or visit www.campbucko.ca.