Phoebe’s Camp Good Grief hosts over 70 campers

ALBANY — More than 70 kids, ages five to 18, took part in Phoebe’s Camp Good Grief, a one-day camp designed to help children cope with the loss of a loved one, at Willson Hospice House and Darton State College Saturday.

Camp participants engaged in activities and small group sessions to help them learn about and discuss grief with their peers in an environment assisted by trained counselors prepared to deal with bereavement issues.

The losses attendees dealt with ranged from the loss of a pet to the loss of a family member. Phoebe officials said attendees came in this year from as far away as Macon, which led to the highest attendance the camp has had since it was started several years ago.

A child will often be recommend for the camp through a school counselor, who will get in touch with the child’s parents in order to get them registered.

The children there Saturday were grouped by age, with the children up to age 13 staying at Willson Hospice House. The older children spent their day at Darton, where they were able to participate in their own group sessions and activities — including tackling the rock climbing wall inside the school’s student center.

Among the new components of the camp was a session of “Ask the Doctor.”

“The goal is to allow them to make new friends and express their feelings with others who have experienced a similar loss in a safe environment,” said Jennifer Stephens, regional executive director for Albany Community Hospice, which is based at Willson.

That opportunity has served as a valuable tool for the campers. Last year, there were 45 participants.

“We have always gotten positive feedback from the campers,” Stephens said. “They make new friends, are equipped with coping skills they can take back and leave with answers to questions they might have had for a long time.”

The day’s activities also included Paws Patrol therapy, arts and crafts, hand print quilting and music. There were times set aside both during the morning and afternoon hours for group sessions and activities.

The Phoebe Foundation supports the camp, so it is complimentary to the campers’ families.

“It is important to help the campers process their grief, talk about their grief and equip themselves with coping skills that will benefit them for the rest of their lives,” Stephens said.

This year the camp ended with the children taking part in a special memorial ceremony in the afternoon during which doves brought down from LaGrange were released in memory of their loved ones.