Grand Rapids, Michigan, May 27, 2015 – Hospice of Michigan is accepting applications for Camp Good Grief, a free day camp for children who have experienced the loss of a loved one.
The one-day camp will be held 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, June 19 at Camp Newaygo, 5333 Centerline Road in Newaygo. Children ages 8 to 17 are invited to apply for the camp, which offers a combination of fun and adventurous camp activities with grief education and emotional support.
Now in its fourth year, the camp will offer a sharing circle for children and teens to talk about their loss and grief experiences and to share memories of their loved one. Campers also will have the opportunity to create a therapeutic remembrance craft, such as a dream catcher they can personalize with memories of their loved one. New this year will be a zip line, which will give participants a bird’s eye view of the camp.
“Camp Good Grief offers a fun and therapeutic environment where children know they’re not alone in their grief,” said Tangela Zielinski, grief support service manager at HOM. “Connecting with others in a similar situation while also having fun is incredibly healing for these kids.”
Hospice of Michigan grief professionals and trained volunteers facilitate the camp, which is open to all children in the community who have experienced the loss of a loved one. Camp Good Grief is underwritten in part by The Gerber Foundation, which works to enhance the quality of life in infants and young children.
Camp Newaygo sits on 101 acres of land along a chain of lakes in the Manistee National Forest Region of midwestern Michigan. Its facilities and programs are accredited by the American Camp Association and licensed by the State of Michigan.
Space is limited at Camp Good Grief, and those interested are encouraged to register as soon as possible. For applications and more information, please call Zielinski at 231.527.0913.
About Hospice of Michigan
A nationally recognized leader in end-of-life care, Hospice of Michigan is the original – and largest – hospice in the state. The nonprofit cares for more than 1,700 patients each day, raising more than $4 million each year to cover the cost of care for the uninsured and underinsured. HOM offers a broad range of services to enhance the quality of life at the end of life, including At Home Support™, our advanced illness management program, community-based palliative care and pediatric care programs. HOM provides grief support and counseling, caregiver education and support, and education programs for physicians and health care professionals through its research, training and education arm, the Hospice of Michigan Institute. For more information, call 888.247.5701 or visit www.hom.org.