Since the beginning of our agency, bereavement services have been a core part of our services. In 2026 we will host our fifth annual Path Finders Camp for grieving kids and teens. The camp provides opportunities for grieving children to interact with others who have experienced similar losses – in a safe, fun and supportive environment.
An amazing part of camp is watching the kids come out of their shells and open up to each other over the week. We designed the camp with activities focused on moving children forward in their grief and helping them adapt to life after loss. Campers can honor the memory of the person who died, normalize feelings, learn coping skills and participate in fun, outdoor games and activities. Even something as simple as fishing with the campers provides a nice quiet time to connect and reflect between volunteers, counselors and campers. Studies show without effective interventions, grief can cause distress that not only affects the individual, but also impacts their family, friends and future careers.
As you can imagine, it takes many hands to ensure a successful camp week. While we are always looking for those with professional child career experiences such as school counselors or licensed counselors with expertise in certain child behaviors to help lead our groups, we are also in need or community members who are willing to give back - to be present with these kids and listen to their stories and experiences. It is so important for each child to feel heard and understand that they are not alone in their experience.
We are asking you to consider lending your time to change the lives of grieving kids in our community this summer. Path Finders Camp 2026 is planned for July 28-31 at Camp Miakonda, with a special training day on July 27. We welcome all inquiries! Please reach out to 419-931-5534 or pathfinderscamp@hospicenwo.org to learn more.
We are 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 will open later this spring - https://www.hospicenwo.org/family-support/path-finders-camp.