To download a camper application, please
click here.
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Camp
Courage
A Camp For
Grieving Children & Teens.
Upcoming dates
for
Camp Courage weekends:
October 3-5, 2008 and
May 15-17, 2009
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Camp Courage is a program which offers
children and teens, ages 8-16, who have experienced
the death of someone they love, the chance to come
together for a weekend camp to learn new ways of dealing
with their grief, to meet other children and teens
who have experienced similar losses and to have fun
enjoying the many amenities offered by Camp Victory’s
beautiful facility. Camp Courage is free of charge
to all who participate.
Statistics tell us that children who
experience the death of someone close to them are
at life-long risk for the worst kinds of negative
coping patterns, such as substance-abuse, depression,
anxiety and even suicide.
Parents tell us when they register their children
that many have already witnessed changes in sleeping
patterns, eating habits and changes in school performance.
Often parents can make the mistake of believing that
if the child doesn’t talk about the death, that
they are not grieving or have not been affected by
the loss.
In fact, the opposite can be true. Holding in feelings
and having lingering questions about the death or
even having unrealistic guilt about the death can
cause significant problems for the child over time,
particularly in the event of future losses. Camp Courage
has a mission to help children through this difficult
time by providing coping skills, support and healthy
ways to memorialize the person who died.
At Camp Courage, campers learn a variety
of ways to express their grief, through journaling,
music, physical activity, creating memory boxes and
other guided activities. In addition, campers are
encouraged to practice sharing their feelings and
provide support to one another in a safe, caring environment
with small groups of peers and adult volunteers. Free
time gives campers and their Big Buddies a chance
to explore the many camp activities including, archery,
rock wall climbing, fishing, paddle boating, bike
riding, visits with therapy dogs, games and sports.
Camp Courage is held twice each year,
in May and October, and is staffed by a large and
generous group of volunteers. Every camper is paired
with a “Big Buddy” for the weekend, who
is there for them if the camper wants to talk, who
can provide careful supervision throughout the weekend
and who will guarantee that the camper has a friend
at every activity. Support Volunteers ensure that
activities are organized and ready for campers and
also provide a break for Big Buddies several times
throughout the weekend. Campers typically come from
Columbia, Montour, Northumberland, Union, Snyder,
Lycoming and Luzerne counties in Pennsylvania. Campers
from other areas are accepted on a case-by-case basis.
Historically, our volunteers come from all over Pennsylvania,
as well as Ohio and Virginia.
Camp Courage is held at Camp Victory,
a gorgeous state-of-the-art camp village in Millville,
PA. (www.campvictory.org)
Kid-friendly meals are provided by professional kitchen
staff. Most of the cabins are heated with furnaces
and offer restroom and shower facilities in each cabin.
All parts of the property are universally accessible.
Two volunteer RNs staff the camp throughout the weekend.
In addition, a paid professional counselor is on site
during Camp Courage in the event a child would have
a need to speak with the counselor at any time during
the weekend. We also employ professional security
detail throughout the weekend.
Camp Courage is free to all campers
and volunteers who attend. As such, we must raise
the funds necessary each year in order to provide
this program to the children of our area. In 2008,
funding has been provided by many who support what
we do, including individual community members, churches,
area businesses. Major funding sources include Columbia-Montour
Home Health and Hospice, Cherokee Pharmaceuticals
and Highmark Healthy High 5. (www.highmarkhealthyhigh5.org)
Tax deductible donations are welcomed and
appreciated by all who benefit from our camp programs.
Donations may be sent to:
Columbia- Montour Home Health and Hospice,
Attn: Camp Courage, 410 Glenn Avenue, Suite 200,
Bloomsburg, PA 17815.
If your child has experienced a loss,
you may print a camp application by clicking on this
link at the top of this page. In order to secure a
space in the next camp, please send your application
as soon as possible to the address above. Many opportunities
to volunteer are available for adults over 18. Criminal
background checks, child abuse clearances and references
are required.
Training is provided. For more information about volunteering
or for questions about our program, call Camp Director,
Jennifer Rairigh at 570-784-1723.
