Staff Reports
A local hospice care provider is offering a free half-day bereavement camp for children ages 5-12 who have experienced the death of a significant person in their lives.
Melissa Clark, a volunteer for Our Hospice of South Central Indiana, created Camp Eva in 2016 as a structured and supportive environment for children to openly share their feelings and memories of a loved one. Our Hospice partnered with Clark to help grow the camp in 2017.
“Children experience grief differently than adults,” said Jessica Curd, a social worker at Our Hospice of South Central Indiana. “Children often grieve in spurts as it is difficult to handle these challenging feelings all at once.”
Curd said children may also incorporate themes of death and dying into their everyday playtime or express their grief in various emotions including anger, sadness, shock, fear and relief.
“This camp is important because it allows children to explore and express their grief through various creative medium including arts, music, pet therapy, play theater, interactive and team building exercises and a balloon release,” Curd said.
Clark and her family established Camp Eva in memory of their daughter and sister, Eva Julianna Clark, who was stillborn in August 2013.
Camp Eva will be Sept. 14 from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Columbus Youth Camp, 12454 W. Youth Camp Road in Columbus. The camp is free to any child ages 5-12 who has experienced a loss.
Registration to Camp Eva is now open through Sept. 9. To register, visit crh.org/service-centers/hospice/our-hospice-news-events/our-hospice-news/2019/06/03/camp-eva-bereavement-camp-for-kids-on-september-9-2019.
A one-hour parent and/or caregiver meeting is included as part of the camp. Questions can be directed to Jessica Curd at 812-314-8044 or [email protected].
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Registration to Camp Eva is now open through Sept. 9. To register, visit crh.org/service-centers/hospice/our-hospice-news-events/our-hospice-news/2019/06/03/camp-eva-bereavement-camp-for-kids-on-september-9-2019.
A one-hour parent and/or caregiver meeting is included as part of the camp. Questions can be directed to Jessica Curd at 812-314-8044 or [email protected].
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