The loss of a grandparent, parent, sibling or friend may occur at some point in a child’s early years. Losing a loved one is difficult at any age, but is especially hard on a child and or teen. It can be difficult to know how to help kids cope with loss, especially if you are working through your own grief as well. At Camp H.E.A.L., children and teenagers are able to express themselves while also meeting others who are dealing with a similar situation.
This fall, Archbold Medical Center’s Hospice of Southwest Georgia will host the 14th annual Camp H.E.A.L. (Healing and Encouragement After Loss), a bereavement day camp that helps children ages 6 to 17 learn to cope with the loss of a loved one by having a safe and fun environment to have their own voice and begin to heal.
The day camp, funded through designated gifts made to the Archbold Foundation, is free and open to children who have recently experienced a loss.
“Camp H.E.A.L. is a retreat for children to recover after losing a loved one. The camp provides children a unique opportunity to learn how to cope with loss and realize they are not alone or the only ones going through grief”, said Sheri Walters, administrator of Hospice of Southwest Georgia. “We offer emotional support, activities to memorialize loved ones while learning healthy ways to cope with grief through arts and crafts, horseback riding and emotional support in a nonjudgmental environment.”
Camp HEAL offers educational discussions on grief and bereavement, an informal memorial service and other activities. Such as horseback riding, art, music, and more. These children get to not only share their experiences, but also form new and life-long friendships
Camp H.E.A.L. will be held in Thomasville on October 19, 2019, from 9am-2pm at Camp Piney Woods.
Registration begins August 1, 2019. The deadline to register a camper is October 1, 2019, or until camper registration is at capacity. The deadline to register to become a Camp H.E.A.L. volunteer is September 20, 2019.
For more information on registering a camper or becoming a Camp H.E.A.L. volunteer, call Hospice of Southwest Georgia, 1.800.290.6567, or visit www.archbold.org/campheal.