Camp Evergreen helps children smile and have fun through difficult times

Children grieve much differently from adults. Their grief comes and goes quickly – sad one minute, laughing and playing the next. Often, children do not show or talk about their grief in front of their parents because they are afraid to make their parents cry. Center for Hospice Care’s Camp Evergreen helps address all of these issues.

Camp Evergreen is a day grief camp in early summer for youth and teens and a Saturday family workshop for youth and parents/guardians in the fall. Both sessions help campers realize that many other youth and teens have experienced death. It also educates them on the grief process and positive ways to cope. Along with opportunities to share about their significant person, the teens and youth have a fun-filled camp experience. Activities include arts and crafts, memory making and a ritual of remembrance at both sessions, as well as outdoor games, boating, fishing and archery at the summer camp.

Camp Evergreen is run by CHC’s bereavement counselors and trained adult volunteers, some of whom serve as buddies. Buddies are with a camper or a small group of campers throughout the summer day camp. Other volunteers help organize activities and support campers as needed throughout the day. 

This year’s Camp Evergreen schedule is as follows:

Camp Evergreen day camp
Saturday, May 30
One-day camp for youth and teens ages 10 – 17 (18 if still in high school)

Camp Evergreen workshop
Saturday, October 25
One-day workshop for parents/guardians and their children, ages 6 – 12

Children ages 10 – 12 can choose to do either of the camp experiences. The day camp will be held at Camp Alexander Mack in Milford, IN. Free transportation will be provided at designated pickup sites and a licensed nurse will be at camp at all times. The workshop will be held at Center for Hospice Care’s Mishawaka Campus.
 
Thanks to support from the Linda Lloyd Mission Endowment for Camp Evergreen, there is no charge for youth and teens to attend. Space is limited and spots will be reserved once a completed application packet is returned. To request a camper or volunteer packet, email evergreen@cfhcare.org or call our Life Transition Center at 574-255-1064.