The Visiting Nurse Association’s VNA Phoenix Center will sponsor a one-day grief camp for children who are grieving the loss of someone special in their life. The camp will be held on Saturday, May 10th from 9 am until 2 pm. In partnership with the VNA, the Valparaiso Family YMCA has provided the use of the new YMCA pavilion for this important community project.
Grieving children have unique needs that may go unnoticed because of their inability to express their feelings as openly as adults. Camp Phoenix incorporates art, play, nature and other activities to draw children and teens into grief work. The goal of the camp is to teach children coping skills as well as provide the opportunity to interact with other children who have had similar experiences. Campers learn their feelings are normal and, like the seasons, persons in grief change and grow.
Each child will be paired with an adult buddy – a specially trained VNA staff member or volunteer - for the day, then come together with their family for a memorial balloon release before going home. The cost is $25.00 per child which includes lunch, snacks and a Camp Phoenix t-shirt. Camp scholarships are available.
The VNA Phoenix Center, which helps provide healing after loss for children and their families, is a program of the Visiting Nurse Association of Porter County. The Center offers peer support groups for children ages 6-18 and young adults up to age 24 who are grieving the death of someone special in their life. The program is provided free of charge, thanks to the generosity of the community.
For more information about the VNA Phoenix Center or Camp Phoenix please contact Michele Murphy Wise, MA at 219-531-8042 or email mmurphy-wise@vnaportercounty.org.