Kaweah Health Hospice Hosts Free Good Grief Camp for Children Coping with Loss

VISALIA, CA – Kaweah Health Hospice invites children who have experienced the death of a significant person in their lives to attend the Good Grief Camp on Saturday, Oct. 12. This free event aims to help children learn coping skills and find healing through a variety of engaging activities.

The camp will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Visalia Nazarene Church, 3333 W. Caldwell Ave. in Visalia. While primarily geared for children ages 5-12, the camp has benefited attendees as young as 4 and as old as 16 in previous years. Each child must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Call (559) 733-0642 to register.

“For those in the midst of grief, sadness is often the primary emotion, and very few, especially children, know how to process deep sadness,” said James Susee, Kaweah Health’s Bereavement Coordinator. “While the camp doesn’t take away grief, it helps create a safe and fun place for a child to experience joy and peace in the midst of sadness.”

Led by professionals trained in child development, mental health, and education, the camp offers a nurturing environment for children to explore their feelings and learn that they are not alone in their grief. Through games, crafts, and age-appropriate activities, children will develop coping skills while also having fun.

“There will most likely still be some tears, but there will also be water balloons. And both tears and fun can help us heal,” Susee said.

Parents and guardians will participate in the event alongside their children, but will also attend a separate workshop focusing on self-care and strategies to support their child through the grieving process.

Camp highlights include:

• Free attendance for children and their parent/guardian
• Camp T-shirt and lunch provided
• Childcare available for ages 1-4 (pre-registration required)
• Spanish interpreter available upon request
• Special craft project (children should bring a 4” x 6” picture of their loved one)

The Good Grief Camp is made possible through the support of the Kaweah Health Hospital Foundation and generous community contributions. Kaweah Health Hospice, a not-for-profit hospice, provides end-of-life services for adults and children in Tulare and Kings counties.

About Kaweah Health
Kaweah Health is a publicly-owned community healthcare organization that provides comprehensive health services to the greater Visalia region and Tulare County. With more than 5,000 employees and 700 medical staff, Kaweah Health is committed to meeting the community’s health needs through state-of-the-art medicine, high-quality preventive services, and specialized health centers and clinics. For more information, visit KaweahHealth.org or follow Kaweah Health on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.
 

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