Bereavement Camp

The third and final day of the tenth Together We Can camp finished yesterday as 36 campers hiked down to the lake to the heartbeat of a buffalo drum. The campers wrote a message to their loved one on rice paper which was then tied with hemp to a carnation (all biodegradable). Most campers were able to toss their carnations into the lake as they honored their special person who died. A few just threw in the stem or the flower, or just the message. It was touching as repeat campers who were unable to throw their flower last year were able to do so this year. The three days were filled with profound moments as the campers learned to express their grief, identify coping strategies and supports and find ways to honor and celebrate their loved one. Counselors and staff, both paid and unpaid, were moved. Many thanks go to the Red Oak Staff in helping facilitate our recreational activities of swimming, canoeing and rockclimbing. In the next few weeks, I will post pictures of our grief camp.