First Camp Courage Site to Open in Hermosillo, Sonora

(Featured Photo: azburn.org)

By: Gabriela Calles

Cronkite Special to AZLatinos.com

This week, a Phoenix Committee discussed plans to build a new camping site for Camp Courage in Hermosillo, Sonora, to make it more accessible for non-English speakers to attend. The Phoenix Sister Cities Committee agreed to send $1,000 to Hermosillo to start its first Camp Courage camping site in Mexico.

Camp Courage began their first camp in the summer of 1991 in Prescott, Arizona. Its main goal is to help children who have suffered severe burn injuries with their emotional needs. It is part of the Arizona Burn Foundation that has been serving Arizona residents for 50 years. Today, Camp Courage not only serves Arizona burn victims but it also welcomes children from Hermosillo.

Frank Beltran, the head of Economic Development for the committee, announced another innovation development, saying that Aeromar Airlines will start flights this fall from Tucson to four new destinations in Mexico, including Hermosillo. However, he said flights directly from Phoenix Sky Harbor to Hermosillo have not been announced yet, but that Southwest has a plan for future flights to Mexico that might include Hermosillo.

Emilio Gaynor, President of the Phoenix Sister Cities Hermosillo Committee, was very optimistic about the two cities’ relationship. Gaynor said that there were a lot of things that have been happening in the past years between the two cities that has helped them come together.

“It’s different than it was 10 years ago,” Gaynor said. “It’s a new opportunity, a new relationship and you never know who might jump in.”

The Phoenix Sister Cities Hermosillo Committee’s main goal is to create programs and events that will unite and benefit the residents of both cities.