This is a paid release.
(Owensboro, KY) HPC Hospice and Palliative Care of Western Kentucky is celebrating another successful Camp Erin experience. Camp Erin is an overnight camp dedicated to serving children ages 6-17 who are grieving the death loss of a loved one. On Aug. 2nd-4th, HPC and Hospice of Southern Kentucky joined forces to host 35 campers at the Gasper River Catholic Youth Camp and Retreat Center in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Between the two organizations, 25 volunteers helped to make this year’s camp fun, inviting, and impactful. Grieving the death of a loved one is difficult for adults, even under the most ideal of circumstances. Grieving the death of a loved one as a child, with a reduced capacity for understanding the tidal wave of emotions that come with grief, can be almost unbearable. Kids often report feeling very alone and isolated in their grief since they often believe their peers do not understand what they are going through. Camp Erin is a place where kids can come be around other kids and adults who are all grieving openly and transparently.
The weekend begins by almost immediately acknowledging the death of our loved ones so as to break the proverbial ice. Pictures of those being grieved are hung on a memorial board and the group collectively recognizes it is grief that has brought us all together. That board stays illuminated all throughout camp as a gleaming reminder that everything experienced at camp- tears, laughter, adventure, reflection, fun, and friendship- can all be embraced while honoring our grief. For many of the campers, this is the first death they have encountered and as such they are facing new frontiers every day. At Camp Erin, we encourage campers to face the unknown by challenging themselves to zipline, climb the 30ft vertical playground, get pulled up 40ft on the giant swing, and talk with kids and adults from other walks of life.
It is impossible to quantify the impact Camp Erin has on the kids and adults who participate. Parents and caregivers regularly comment that it was a turning point in their child’s grief journey. HPC counts itself incredibly blessed to be able to offer Camp Erin free of charge to any child grieving the death of a loved one.
Caleb Potter can be reached at [email protected] or by calling 270-316-9112 for more information about Camp Erin and bereavement services offered by HPC.
