The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Lorain County youth can learn to grieve at camp
Stein Hospice held a camp in Elyria for children working to cope with the loss of someone they love.
Stein Hospice provided a camp Aug. 5-8 at West Park, 1201 Lowell St. in Elyria, for Lorain County children working to cope with the loss of someone they love.
“The week is called Camp Good Grief, and the focus is on any child, ages 5-13, who has experienced any type of loss,” said Christa Bonner, licensed social worker for Stein Hospice. “A majority of the children here are dealing with a death in the family, but others are dealing with separation or abandonment.
“This may be due to the incarceration of a loved one.”
Bonner said the compassionate staff running the camp work with the children to cope with their losses of over the course of the week.
“We let them know that it’s okay to feel the way they are about the loss,” she said. “Grief can be shown in many different ways.
“We want them to know that it’s a healthy reaction to what they have gone through, and provide them with the tools and coping mechanisms to help them through this.”
Bonner said Stein Hospice hosts camps for multiple demographics, but the agency holds camps for children to make sure they aren’t forgotten.
“The grieving process is something that everyone goes through, but children’s grief often goes unnoticed,” she said. “I think it’s more evident when adults are going through that grieving process, and children need that opportunity to express that grief.
“Children show grief in different ways and a lot of them don’t know how to talk about it, so this is why we, in the fourth year of doing this camp, give them the tools they need to heal.”
Varied themes
Bonner said the camp was designed by having a different theme each day.
“We like to schedule the camp around having a different focus each day,” she said. “We focus on grief loss, feelings, self-esteem, coping and healing with different presenters throughout the week.
“It also includes different art projects throughout the week and activities.”
A variety of different children attended the camp, Bonner said.
“They are all on various stages of grief,” she said. “We really have a mixed bag; some of the kids have gone to counseling and others are being introduced to it over the week.
“We usually kick off the camp by having the campers share their stories. We don’t push them, but we usually get a lot of kids that are willing.
“There are others who are more hesitant, maybe due to the separation or death being recent, but the goal is to get them to feel comfortable in this support group setting.”
Coping mechanisms
Bonner said the camp also features the use of some different coping techniques.
“One of the things we introduce is guided imagery,” she said. “It has them focusing minds on imaging a safe, calm and peaceful place.
“We also incorporate labyrinth walks, which are basically calming walks that are done with a group.”
Bonner said spirituality is a huge component to the grief coping.
“We do want them to find some form of spirituality,” she said. “It’s a focus on meditation and finding some form of acceptance, so we want to encourage whatever form that takes for them when they are ready and willing.”
One of the guests Stein Hospice had at the camp was Nancy Denslow, of Vermilion, and her therapy dog Rusty.
“Dogs are great for dealing with grief,” Denslow said. “Petting a dog lowers your blood pressure and anxiety.
“Rusty and I volunteer with Stein and it’s something where I see the impact he has on families. I brought him to the camp and he was a real hit with the kids. Dogs are great to pet and they will listen to you without any judgement.”
Another guest at the camp was Brian Thomas, head coach of the Elyria Girls High School Soccer team, and his players.
“The camp had been held in Elyria for the past few years, and the opportunity came for our team to be a part of it this year,” Thomas said. “I took five of our players over to talk with and do some soccer games with the kids.
“They immediately took to the opportunity and really made a connection with the campers. We split them up so that each of the players had about two campers a piece.
“This really allowed them to form a bond. It was something where we ended up staying well after our intended time. It was a great community service opportunity for the girls, and it was great for both the campers and players to find that connection. It’s something we will definitely be doing again.”