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by Beth Sorensen and
Kathryn King
Camp can be an ideal setting to help children cope with
the death of a loved one. Since 1991, Camp ReLeaf, a weekend camp hosted
by Triangle Hospice of Durham, North Carolina, has been helping children
develop positive coping skills for dealing with the recent death of a
family member. Camp ReLeaf offers all the fun of a traditional residential
camp, while creating a safe place for youth to express and deal with
their grief. Over the years, therapeutic recreation has become one of
the cornerstones of this camp’s program.
The Role of Therapeutic Recreation
By using education and recreational activities, therapeutic
recreation helps people with illnesses, disabilities, and other conditions
enhance their health, independence, and well-being. Hospice coordinators
recognize the benefit of therapeutic recreation components to the camp
schedule. One certified therapeutic recreation specialist (CTRS) and
several college students facilitate sessions for all age groups. Many
campers share their feelings for the first time while participating in
these therapeutic recreation sessions.
Teaching Coping Skills
When campers arrive at Camp ReLeaf, they are divided
into three groups based upon grade (K-2, 3-5, 6-8). Siblings and cousins
are placed in different groups, if possible, to allow campers more security
in expression of feelings and to reduce behavior issues and unhealthy
competition.
The older group attends sessions in problem solving/trust
building, journaling as a coping strategy, and "Cool Tools for Coping," an
interactive discussion focusing on coping skills development. Other sessions
include making a collage of life, making T-shirts and hats, and playing
games using open-ended questions to facilitate discussion of feelings,
interests, and memories of their deceased loved ones.
Sessions in the two younger groups’ schedule include: "Cool
Tools for Coping," a humor workshop lead by a professional clown,
and an anger management workshop to teach them to safely express and
cope with their anger through physical activity. Campers also attend
therapeutic recreation sessions, where they take part in activities,
such as collage of life and hand puppets, which are facilitated by a
CTRS.
Collage of life
In this activity, campers search through magazines and catalogs to find pictures
of their favorite activities, as well as those that make them feel good.
They then make a collage of these items on paper. Once the collages are finished,
the certified therapeutic recreation specialist leads campers in a discussion.
Because children often feel afraid or guilty if they laugh and have fun,
discussing what makes them feel good can be difficult. The CTRS helps campers
understand how these special activities can actually be powerful coping mechanisms.
Hand puppets
Campers make hand puppets out of socks, decorating them to reflect their individual
personalities and preferences. A wide variety of materials, such as buttons,
pom poms, ribbons, doll eyes, glitter and sequins, yarn, and a hot glue gun,
are available to help campers make puppets that are special to each of them.
Staff members explain to campers how their puppets can help them when times
get tough: the puppets can listen when no one else is available, they can
give companionship when the child is lonely, they can help tell an adult
something that is difficult to say out loud, and they can be used to have
fun.
Making a Memory Board
Each child at camp makes a memory board using photos
and other items brought from home that remind the child of their deceased
loved one. Not all campers bring photographs, so they are encouraged
to make a board that is representative of the person who died by writing
words to express their feelings, listing the interests of the person,
or describing a happy memories of that person. In addition, pictures
cut from magazines and catalogs, stickers, glitter, fabric material and
notions, and items found on nature walks often complete the boards.
The making of the memory boards provides an excellent
opportunity for camp staff (and parents when campers return home) to
talk bout the person who died. Making memory boards can be emotionally
powerful and emotionally draining for both campers and staff. Each child
takes the memory board home to remember the loved one, to remember camp
and what was learned, and to help with cope when times get tough.
Balloon Release Ceremony
After campers complete their memory boards, they are
given a piece of rice paper on which to write messages to their loved
one who died. Staff members help write, as well as help with the emotions
that this task often evokes. The rice paper message is then attached
to a helium balloon. (The rice paper and special balloons are both biodegradable).
The entire camp then gathers on the field for the balloon
release ceremony. The camp director talks about the concept of "ritual" and
explains how rituals can help people deal with loss. She states that
the balloon stands for the person who died and that it carries a personal
message from the camper. She further explains that the balloon is not
the person, but by this ritual, an event was created to help the camper
deal with grief and loss.
A counselor from each cabin calls out the name of each
child’s loved one and the child’s special name for that person,
such as "MeMaw" or "Daddy." As the balloons drift
up and away, Collin Raye’s song, "Love Remains," is played.
Campers and staff spend time talking, hugging, consoling, or in silence
and wander off in pairs or small groups.
We Are Better People
At the end of this time of reflection, the three cabin
groups meet in separate locations around camp. A counselor gives each
camper a small cloth bag containing three stones and a poem. Two of the
stones are smooth, polished, and beautiful. The other rock is rough and
plain. The poem says, "Each of us has bright and shiny pieces in
our lives, as well as places in our hearts that will always be rough
and painful; and because of this, we are better people."
For children who are experiencing grief, the availability
of understanding staff who are willing to listen, peers in a similar
situation, and coping activities provide a valuable step toward healing.
Therapeutic recreation can play a large role in this process.
Originally published in the 1999 March/April
issue of Camping Magazine. |
