Children's Bereavement Camp to be Held in August

It wouldn’t be summer without camp. Day camp, art camp, sports camp, sleepaway camp—these days there’s a camp to suit nearly every child’s tastes and interests.

But one local camp is going beyond crafts and swimming to delve into a deep and sensitive subject matter.

The Children’s Summer Bereavement Camp will be held August 5, 6 and 7 at God’s Love Lutheran Church. It will be facilitated by Amy Keiper-Shaw, a social worker and grief counselor.

The camp is for children aged 6 to 12 who have lost a loved one.

Whether it’s a parent, grandparent, sibling or pet, “our goal is to help these children not to feel so different from others who haven’t had a loss. The goal is to have them know they are not alone,” said Keiper-Shaw.

Keiper-Shaw said she frequently gets calls from families looking for help for their children coping with a loss. “I also know the school counselors do the best they have with their limited resources but it's just not enough help,” she said.

One in seven children will have a significant loss in their life before they graduate high school, Keiper-Shaw noted.  “We want to be there to help,” she said.

A team of volunteer counselors will help facilitate the camp.

“We will be teaching the children about expressing their grief through pet therapy, music and therapeutic techniques,” she said. “The goal is to have fun, to share emotions in a safe place and make some connections.”

The camp will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Registration is $25.

Pre-registration is required by July 20. To register, call Keiper-Shaw at 267-992-6672 or email amykeipershaw@gmail.com.