CAMP KINDLE: A SAFE HAVEN FOR AIDS KIDS SAUGUS WOMAN AIMS TO HELP THOSE IN NEED.

Byline: Carol Rock Staff Writer

SAUGUS - Walking into Eva Payne's house makes it clear that kids are a priority.

Five-year-old Emmi bounces into the room, followed by her 2-year-old brother Coleman. Photos of the children line the fireplace and dot the walls; toys are scattered along the walls of the warm townhouse.

Payne, who is expecting her third child in February, isn't fazed at all by the activity. She's focused on telling the story of her other children, the 600 kids age 7 to 13 who attend Camp Kindle, a summer getaway she created for children impacted by HIV/AIDS.

Payne posed the idea to her father while she was a senior at the University of Nebraska. With his encouragement, she learned everything she could about establishing a nonprofit organization from books and used her college experience in broadcasting and theater to bring the camp to fruition.

``I was a volunteer with the Nebraska AIDS project and had been to summer camps most of my life,'' said the 28-year-old former theater major. ``I researched and found there was nothing for the kids dealing with this.''

``I wanted to give these kids a place to feel safe and good about themselves,'' she said. ``I saw these outreach programs about AIDS and wondered what I could do to help.

``Once you meet these kids, you know. They don't want to go home because they tell us camp is the best place to be. It's really something, because when you hear them say those kinds of things, you know you've done something good.''

Camp Kindle is in its eighth season of providing a safe harbor for children dealing with the harrowing disease, either because they have AIDS, are HIV positive or live with an afflicted family member. The first camp is near Ashland, Neb., and the second, which opened two years ago when Payne moved back to California, is at Big Bear Lake.

``Kindle means to spark interest or desire,'' Payne said. ``We only have these kids for a week, but once you meet them or experience the camp, it has a power on you.''

Funding comes from grants, individual and corporate donations, and campers are allowed to attend at no cost to them. Many of the campers - their families affected by the soaring costs of medical care - bring nothing but a change of clothing in a pillowcase to the camp. By the time they leave, Payne said, they have trash bags full of goodies from generous donors, ranging from clothing to toys and electronics.

During the summer sessions, held in July in Nebraska and in August in California, Payne works with 60 volunteers who include nurse-practitioners, registered nurses and students, as well as activity counselors and administrative staff. Ninety percent of the volunteers are return participants, and campers who reach age 16 are invited to participate in a counselor-in-training program.

Payne's husband, Chad, ``married into the camp'' although he and Eva have been close since junior high school.

``She's a dreamer,'' he said, remembering their senior prom when Eva decided they were going as Beauty and the Beast, even though it wasn't a costume ball. ``When she said she was going to start this nonprofit, I knew she could do it. I think it's awesome that she's getting some recognition for her work; she's been a do-gooder all her life.''

Payne's husband said that every year, the subject comes up as to whether they should continue.

``I mention that maybe this should be the last year because of the financial burden it puts on the family,'' he said. ``But then we go to the camp and come back with tears in our eyes, saying 'OK, we can do it again.'''

Payne's actions brought her to the attention of Volvo Corp., which is considering her as a finalist in the Volvo for Life Awards that would bring a $50,000 grant to the charity and a vehicle. Nominated by her camp director, Jodi Phillips, Payne was honored, but it hasn't slowed her down in developing an outreach program for campers.

The Sharing Personal Experiences And Knowledge: Our Unique Truths (SPEAK OUT) program brings campers to groups and school campuses to talk about their experience with HIV/AIDS - something that the campers may not be able to talk about in their home towns because of the stigma attached.

``We've changed some people's perceptions,'' Payne said. ``Even my mom was a bit hesitant at first. They're much more accepting in Nebraska now. In California, there are already groups dealing with this, so the difference is competition for funding. But the need is everywhere.''

To volunteer, make a contribution or get more information about Camp Kindle, call (877) 800-CAMP or visit the group's Web site at www.campkindle.org.

Carol Rock, [phone]

carol.rock(at)dailynews.com

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Photo:

(color) Eva Payne founded Camp Kindle eight years ago to ``spark desire'' in the lives of children impacted by HIV/AIDS.

David Crane/Staff Photographer