Bereavement Camp

[happy_camper]

As my Gold Award, I am organizing a grief/bereavement camp for children to help them heal after the loss of a loved one. I need your imput!

1) Any ideas for the name of the camp?

2) Any ideas of activities to be done to help with the healing process. I am going to contact counselors and psychologists, but any ideas from you guys are also welcome. I am going to traditional camp activities as well (just for fun) but I need ideas for "healing" activities.

Thanks!

[campnerd99]

I suggest having the campers writing a letter to the lossed love one. They don't have to share these letters but I think it would be benifical to give them the chance to write down things that they would like to say to this person.

[happy_camper]

Good idea, CampNerd

Thanks

[Campgirlboo]

I agree with the pp about writing letters...

I don't have a lot to add, right now I can't think of anything special, but I just wanted to say what an Awesome Idea for a Gold Award project...

Good Luck and if you need anything that I (might) be able to help you with :-) Let me know!

[clarabelle1985]

writtign letters sounds likea great idea i know that a uk berevant camp does taht but they then tie them to ballons and release them at the end of camp. Anoutehr idea i have heard about is for the kids to make a bracelet and then they hung on treees and everyone takes one someone else made and wear it to remeber not alone in there berevment

[happy_camper]

I like the bracelet idea... In all my research I haven't seen that one yet!!

Great ideas, guys!

[triplethreat]

I can't remember exactly what this is, perhaps you can look it up, but isn't there a native tradition of setting a lantern on the water at night? This might be a good end of camp exercise for those who didn't get a chance to say goodbye to their loved ones.

Also, you might want to do something with the 5 stages of grief...

[Mouse...]

A few years ago I attended one of these camps as a camper- Awsome idea for a gold award. One of the things we did was paint small pots and plant a flower in them, so that everytime we took care of our plant we would think about our loved one in a positive way, the letter writting was also done. We also painted on rocks things we regretted about the loss and skipped them in the lake.

The biggest thing about this type of camp- at least for me was to show these campers that they are not alone. Find ways to build a sense of community because often, with loss in childhood the child feels like they are all alone in their sadness.

The camp program I went to was called 'Camp Compass' and it was put on through hospice. Hope that helps.

[laurathistle]

I think a memory book or box would be a good idea. It could include things like photos, small objects belonging to the loved one like a book mark or small teddy bear, a CD with the loved ones favourite song or a song that reminds the person of the loved one, inspirational poems and stories written by the child about special memories like "The day gramps and I went to the beach." There are loads of things that could be included but that would depend on forward planning and resources.

This is something that the child can keep for many years. I have one I made when my Grandfather died when I was 8 and I still get it out now and then almost 15 years later. I have one of his war medals in it. My brother also has one and he has a watch that belonged to my Grandfather in his.