NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Cindy Dubovich with Hospice and Homecare of Reno County notes that the “Space to Grieve” Kids Kamp for children 6-17 years of age is coming up in July.
"We know that children that have lost loved ones need to have support," Dubovich said. "In order to be able to meet that need, part of Hospice and Homecare of Reno County's work is to host a Kids Camp in conjunction with Cosmosphere at Cosmosphere. We do this in the summer for a one-day camp."
This is the seventh year for the event that is from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. July 16.
"Children don't always have the opportunity to focus on and process their grief," Dubovich said. "They're doing what kids do. They're working on the day to day things and activities that children do. Allowing for a dedicated time with volunteers that are trained to work for that day and work with the kids through the feelings that they experience, sometimes that may be the first time they've been able to speak them. Part of it is also so very helpful for kids to encounter other kids who have had a loss and to know they are not alone."
The event is free thanks to support from United Way of Reno County and local civic clubs and merchants.
"When we are working with the Cosmosphere, we split our time," Dubovich said. "We have our projects that we are working on through the hospice group, but Cosmosphere will do things like Goddard's Lab and have the kids there. They may be working with the zero-g. Last year, they also made ice cream with, I think it was liquid nitrogen was the process. They do things that we cannot. Part of why we split that up and give time for both is kids can't maintain a long term dealing with grief and being in it. They need to have some break times, so we go back and forth from fun things to more challenging things, being able to talk about our grief."
Spaces are limited, so contact Hospice and Homecare of Reno County today at 620-665-2473 for more information.