Camp makes a kid's loss more BEARable
By BILL RICHMOND
City editor
Workers for State of the Heart Home Health and Hospice are making plans for their fourth annual Camp BEARable, a weekend camp for children ages 8-12 who have recently lost a loved one. Attending camp BEARable is free of charge.
"I know a grief camp sounds kind of sad," said State of the Heart Volunteer Coordinator Patti Stahl, "but we have a variety of activities for kids that help them to deal with what's going on in their lives.
"We have equine therapy which is a wonderful program because it helps teach children how to trust. They do a lot with the horses to learn about team work too. And they have a camp fire at the end of the night. We have a lot of feeling games where they talk about their feelings. We let kids know that it's okay to say whatever they need to say because it's their weekend and the attention is focused on them."
Stahl said kids who attend the camp may have lost a family member or a close friend, the guidelines do not spell out specifically what relationship the person they lost must be to make a child eligible.
"Anyone they were emotionally close to- if it affects their lives, we welcome them to the camp," Stahl said.
Camp BEARable was begun in 2001 for youngsters needing help dealing with greif and loss issues. It provides an opportunity for young people to gather and, with the help of a trained "buddy," explore their feelings about the loss of a loved one while enjoying themselves in a non-threatening, fun environment.
This years Camp BEARable will be Friday, Saturday and Sunday, July 30-Aug. 1.
"The will have a number of helpful programs and three meals a day," Stahl said. "It's just a really nice place. It's out in a wooded area, it's a beautiful building with air conditioning. It's a nice place to hold a bereavement camp."
The camp is located in Maria Stein, Ohio, east of Ft. Recovery (about a 45-minute drive from the Randolph County area). For more information about Camp BEARable, contact Stahl at 1-800-584-9853.
