MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
Children coping with the loss of a loved one will once again have a place to connect, heal and learn healthy ways to navigate grief this summer through a special camp hosted by Hospice and Homecare of Reno County.
Jennifer Sharp and Cindy Dubovich with Hospice and Homecare of Reno County recently discussed the organization’s annual children’s bereavement camp during an interview on KWBW’s BW Morning Show. The camp, called “A Space to Grieve,” is designed for children ages 6 through 17 who are experiencing grief following the loss of a loved one.
The one-day camp is scheduled for July 11 at the Cosmosphere and is offered free of charge to families. This year’s theme is “Weathering Through Grief,” using weather as a way to help children understand the changing emotions that often accompany loss.
“We know that grief is complex and kids especially need unique ways to connect the known to the unknown,” Sharp said during the interview. “We will help them compare grief to the weather, how it changes, how one day things can be fine and everything is sunny, and then emotions take over.”
Organizers said the camp gives children a safe environment to express emotions, connect with peers who have experienced similar losses and develop coping skills they can continue using long after the camp ends.
“We offer a safe place for them to explore the emotions, to connect with peers that understand and have been through similar situations,” Dubovich said. “They learn that grief is a part of them, but it doesn’t define them.”
Parents drop children off at the beginning of the camp day and return later for a closing family session alongside volunteers and staff members who have supported the children throughout the day.
In addition to grief support activities, children also participate in hands-on educational experiences with Cosmosphere staff. Past activities have included making ice cream with liquid nitrogen, creating rockets and participating in science-based projects.
The camp is supported by trained volunteers from a variety of backgrounds, including mental health professionals, school counselors and community members dedicated to helping children navigate grief.
Sharp said one of the most important aspects of the camp is helping children realize they are not alone in what they are experiencing.
“As adults we can recognize that we need help and that we need an outlet,” Sharp said. “Sometimes that’s not as easy for kids to recognize.”
Dubovich added that communication and outside support can be especially important for teenagers, who may struggle to openly share their emotions with family members after a loss.
“Connecting him to organizations and groups and people that he can openly talk with makes all the difference in the world,” Dubovich said while discussing her own family’s experience with grief.
Organizers emphasized that children are welcome to attend the camp multiple years, noting that grief changes as children mature and experience different stages of life. The camp is open to any child grieving the loss of a loved one and is not limited to families connected to hospice care.
Registration forms are available through Hospice and Homecare of Reno County. Families can call 620-665-2473 for more information or to register. Organizers ask that registration forms be submitted by June 23.