Shared Situations Help Bring Healing to Camp Jamie Participants

The loss of a loved one can be a lonely and alienating experience for people of any age, but for children and adolescents who tend to prioritize peer interactions, the isolation of grief can be especially painful.

Through programs like Camp Jamie, bereaved youth discover that they’re not alone, and find peers that they can lean on as they grieve together. For many kids, this makes all the difference and can be a turning point in their healing journey.

“Being with other people who are the same age as me, who went through similar experiences and were feeling the same way that I was really helped,” said Kenzie, who attended Camp Jamie’s Teen Grief Retreat after the death of her father. Despite Kenzie’s initial reluctance to attend, when her mom arrived to pick Kenzie up from camp, she heard lots of chatter and laughter among the teens. “There was a real shared energy between them,” she said. Kenzie’s younger sister attended the overnight Camp Jamie, for students in grades 1-8. She says the major focus was on having fun. “Yes, there is a little bit of emotion, but there’s nothing to be scared of and you will make a lot of great friends. I know I have,” she said.

Do you know of a young person or teenager who is struggling to cope with the loss of a loved one? Call 240-566-3030 to learn more about how Hospice can support them.