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High atop
a mountain at Hokukano Ranch in Kealakekua
was the setting for the first Camp
Erin-Hawaii on Friday, Saturday and Sunday,
July 18- 20, 2008. Thirty two campers, ages
5 -16 participated in a high energy and very
meaningful program to help children and
teens understand their feelings after the
death of a loved one, learn healthy ways to
express their grief, find ways to have a
continuing bond with that special person and
know they are not alone.
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The camper’s time at the ranch was
rich and full including grief processing
activities involving arts and crafts,
creative writing, movement and ritual. From
these potentially emotional experiences they
transitioned to free-play activities such as
horseback riding, archery, volleyball, giant
parachute play, obstacles courses, or relay
racing, to name a few. |
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On Saturday night
there were s’mores and singing around the campfire,
along with a camper talent show featuring a
comedian, singing, skits, hula, playing ukulele, and
poetry reading. The luminaries honoring their loved
ones made by the campers themselves earlier in the
day were lit and floated together as a ritual
providing a time of reflection with tears shared
safely among those who have had the same experience
of loss.
Parents, too, participated in a day program on
Saturday learning how kids grieve differently and
how to support them, receiving education and support
around their own grief and practice with self care
exercises.
More than
forty five trained volunteers helped to
make all this happen. Among the volunteers
were Cabin Big Buddies who supervised and
cared for each camper at all times. Other
volunteers planned, developed and led the
activities, while others assisted in setting
up camp and providing food. It absolutely
could not have happened without the
invaluable skills and offering of all of the
volunteers. |
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Camp Erin was a great success, with
campers exclaiming at the end of the weekend that they
can’t wait to come back again next year, that they
learned so much about their grief and felt supported by
volunteers and fellow campers.
One parent wrote after Camp: "I cannot thank you and
your staff enough for what you folks have done for my
son...He was sharing with me what he had done &
learned...his attitude and personality has changed a
little and he speaks more about Uncle [ ] and wants to
do it again, but for his other Uncle...Much Mahalos"
I can't wait until next year!― See
you in 2009! Mahalo to all and a hui hou!" Janette
du Monceau, MSW, Camp Erin Director, Hospice of Kona
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