Sidney Health Center Hospice To Host Camp Mend-A-Heart

Kids Camp Mend-A-Heart is a bereavement program for kids, ages 5-18 years old. This year, camp will be held at a new location, the Event Center at the Richland County Fairgrounds on Friday, Aug. 12 from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.

The camp is sponsored by the Sidney Health Center Hospice and is free of charge. Any kid who has suffered a loss is invited to attend. The loss could be a relative, friend, pet, military deployment or divorce.

To register for camp, please call the Hospice office at 488-2138. Each child must have their registration form completed giving parental permission to attend.  Registrations are due by Tuesday, Aug. 9 to help in the planning. No child will be turned away if the deadline is missed.

Losses in life are much too important and big to be ignored. At camp, kids are encouraged to acknowledge their losses in a safe and caring environment. They learn that it is okay to feel sad and to cry. Often it feels scary and you will be mad, and that is okay too. Kids should not feel guilty for smiling and laughing. It is okay to feel happy. All of these feelings are part of grieving, and they are all normal. At camp, kids are encouraged to talk to others and to work as a team because grief work is less and healthier when shared.

What happens at Camp Mend-A-Heart? The camp is filled with fun and fellowship. Kids participate in fun activities like a scavenger hunt, relay races, and games.  There will also be art projects, learning sessions, and group sharing, including a candle ceremony where everyone lights a candle in memory of what they lost. Great food will be provided by camp cook, Eunice Lathrop, and a canteen will be open throughout the day for snacks.

The day at camp will end with a memorial balloon release. Families are invited to attend the memorial balloon release with their kids at 3:30 p.m.