Since the beginning of our agency, bereavement services have been a core part of our services. Last summer we held our first-ever Path Finders grief camp. The camp provides opportunities for grieving children and teens to interact with others who have experienced similar losses – in a safe, fun and supportive environment.
I was lucky enough to help at camp last summer and saw how the kids came out of their shells and opened up to each other. We designed the camp with activities focused on moving children forward in their grief, helping adapt to life after loss. Campers had the opportunity to honor the memory of the person who died, normalize feelings, learn coping skills and participate in fun, outdoor games and activities. I particularly enjoyed fishing with the campers because it provided a nice quiet time to connect and reflect. Studies show without effective interventions, grief can cause distress that not only affects the individual, but also impacts their family, friends and future careers.
I was happy to read follow-up surveys that included comments from parents/guardians such as “Camp helped my child open up and learn coping skills;” “This was an awesome camp for kids to just be kids!” and “Can my child come back next year?” Like many of our hospice programs, we are able to offer this camp at no cost to participants - thanks to support from the community. This year’s camp will be held July 25 – 28 at Camp Miakonda.
I am looking forward to meeting the campers this summer and helping them along their grief journey. If you know of a child or teen who may benefit from attending Path Finders Camp – registration is open!