Wednesday, June 10, 2020

State of the Heart Care to Host 20th Annual Grief Camp


State of the Heart Care is preparing for its 20th annual grief camp, Camp Encourage, this summer. In the best interest and safety for our families, volunteers, and staff involved with camp, we are hosting Camp Encourage virtually this year! Camp Encourage at Home will be July 10-12 and our camp staff are hard at work preparing activities for the campers, ensuring they still have a special camp experience even if it may be a little different this year. Camp Encourage accepts children ages 6-15 who have experienced the death of a loved one, no matter their affiliation with our hospice care.
Camp Encourage at Home will be virtual for the families to attend. Families who register will receive a box of grief activities along with Camp Encourage swag, treats, and goodies that we typically give to the campers through the weekend. Our camp director, Ashlee Slavin stated, “The idea behind the virtual camp is to create the camp environment at home for each camper.” Slavin also shared that families will be required to sign up for individual meeting times with herself and Bereavement Specialist, Sarah DePoy.

Camp Encourage will have planned virtual meeting times throughout the weekend starting on Friday, July 10 with a red-carpet introduction for all staff and campers involved. Beginning Saturday morning, campers will be able to participate in group video chats to work through activities with our trained volunteers so that they can process some of the big emotions that come with grief while in a supportive environment. Part of our activities also includes a Panel of Experts featuring a physician, one of our hospice chaplains, and a funeral home director. Children can ask those tough questions that they may not have had a chance to ask before. Campers will also participate in Music Therapy with our music therapists.

We understand the sensitivity of grief and that children do not always have the means to express themselves. That is why throughout the remainder of the weekend, campers will be able to connect and ask questions to our hospice staff and volunteers so that they have the support that they need during a vulnerable time for them.

For more information, please visit our website at stateoftheheartcare.org/camp-encourage or contact our Camp Director, Ashlee Slavin at aslavin@stateoftheheartcare.org.

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