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| Pictured are Jill Bobb, left, and Susan Knouff. |
The catalyst bringing the two together is Susan Knouff, RN, BSN, and Bereavement Support Development Specialist for State of the Heart. Knouff, who is the camp director, earned her nursing degree from Edison Community College in Piqua in 2007. A program requirement, which she completed, was to have a community clinical experience. She chose to participate in a children’s grief camp, called Camp Courageous conducted by Hospice of Miami County.
The experience, she said, “helped guide me to my career in hospice care.” She learned so much about grief and loss, she said, and through the camp experience realized her passion for end-of-life care and grief support. “It was a powerful learning experience. I went to camp to help a grieving child and I believe I did—the knowledge I gained in how to heal from my own past was an unexpected benefit,” she said.
Each year, Camp BEARable, which is offered to any child ages six through 15 in need of grief support, seeks volunteers to serve as trained adult “buddies” for the young people attending. This year, 18 students from Edison’s Nursing program have volunteered for camp. In doing so, they will fulfill a community clinical component of the nursing program. The camp is free and open to children regardless of association with hospice care.
“Typically, if a person is interested in becoming a nurse, they are a person who wants to help others,” stated Jill Bobb, assistant professor of nursing at Edison. “Volunteering is an extension of that helping nature. In this instance, the nursing students will get to see the grieving process up close, particularly with children. Many times, people forget that children need help dealing with grief,” Bobb said. “For some of the nursing students, the experience may shape what they want to do in nursing.”
Many of the nursing students have families and jobs. Bobb added, “The weekend timeframe is great as it gives them flexibility and does not take them away from their jobs.” Another group of nursing students will assist with Hospice of Miami County’s Camp Courageous for kids.
Bobb said that the students will learn the “team concept” in their camp experience. Knouff added that they will also learn about the mental health aspect of grieving, and “develop active listening skills.”
Gwen Stevenson, Dean of Nursing Health & Sciences at Edison State, stated, “Participation in Camp BEARable is a wonderful opportunity for our nursing students to support grieving children while also gaining a better understanding of the grieving process at different developmental stages. Being able to work directly with camp participants will really bring concepts learned in the classroom to life. Also, through this experience, students will be exposed to the value of community service which we hope will foster a commitment to continued community service following graduation.”
One of the Edison Nursing Program students is Jennifer Stewart, who is in her first year of employment at State of the Heart as an LPN. She expects to graduate next May, earning her RN degree.
“I am looking forward to the experience,” she said. “Most of my care has been with adults, so this will allow me to be with young people and to see the grieving experience for them. It will definitely broaden my nursing education.” She added, “My hope is that I am able to make an impression on one of the kids, or help them in some way by reaching out to them.”
This year marks the thirteenth year for Camp BEARable which is held at the Spiritual Center at Maria Stein. Last year, a record 64 kids attended the camp. Of that number, only 11 had any association with hospice care. It is necessary to register for the camp. The registration application is available at www.stateoftheheartcare.org, under the Grief and Loss tab. Once downloaded, it can be filled out and mailed to State of the Heart.
The camp experience provides a “safe” environment for the young people. There is a mixture of fun and games and serious dialogue dealing with personal losses. The feedback from the youth attending in the past is consistent: many say they find they are not alone in their grief, and for the first time, they are able to speak openly about their grief. Each child is assigned a “buddy” to be with them during camp.
Volunteers are always needed and those interested can learn more about becoming a volunteer by calling Knouff at 1-800-417-7535, or sending her an email at sknouff@stateoftheheartcare.org. State of the Heart, with offices in Greenville, Coldwater and Portland, cares for patients and families in eastern Indiana and western Ohio who are confronting a life limiting illness.
Editor’s Note: Pictured are Jill Bobb, left, and Susan Knouff.