7th Annual Camp Promise (June 11 - 14, 2012)

23 children attended the seventh annual Camp Promise held June 11 – 14 on the grounds of the Hospice Care Center. The day camp is for children ages 6-11 who need help processing a significant loss in their lives, such as a parent, grandparent or sibling. The camp expanded from three days to four this year, due to popular demand.

The camp participants learned to manage and understand their grief through creative activities such as craft-making, music, drama, and art therapy. The camp also gave the children an opportunity to interact with others their age experiencing the same issues and to learn that they aren’t alone. A number of teens and adults volunteered their time to make this year’s camp run smoothly. Nearly 200 children have participated in the camp since its inception.
The children attend camp at no cost thanks to the generosity of many sponsors, including the Premier Sponsor, Westminster Presbyterian Church in Akron (WPC). WPC has been the Premiere Sponsor of Camp Promise since its inception.

They have raised approximately $94,000 for the camp over seven years through their annual WPC Invitational Golf Outing. Hospice of Visiting Nurse Service thanks WPC and all of the sponsors, volunteers, and staff for making this year's camp available for the children.

Visit our Grief Education  and Grief Support  pages for details on current bereavement support programs.

Guidelines for Helping Children who Grieve

Oftentimes, we hesitate to talk about death especially with young children or adolescents; but, without the courage to talk openly and freely, we greatly limit our ability to help.

• Parents, communicate to your children that they can openly express the feelings they have when a loved one dies.
• Parents, remember children communicate their thoughts and feelings according to their particular stage of development.
• Children also process their grief in “bite size” pieces over time. They may mourn the death of a parent, grandparent, or someone the child was close to, on and off for several years.