It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s Angela Hospice’s Camp Monarch!
Taking place on Saturday, Oct. 8, Camp Monarch will help grieving kids and teens to find their inner superhero as they take part in camp activities ranging from music therapy, to arts and crafts, and other group activities. Snacks and lunch will be provided.
Open to all children and teens ages 5-17 who have experienced the loss of a loved one, Camp Monarch is being organized by the Grief Care team at Angela Hospice, and will take place at the Montessori Center of Our Lady in Livonia. Camp Monarch is funded through a grant by the Livonia Community Foundation.
“Without question, childhood grief is a serious challenge,” said Debbie Vallandingham, Angela Hospice Director of Social Work and Grief Care Services.
Debbie noted that grieving children often have difficulty sleeping, experience worry and depression, and may even display outbursts that threaten their long-term emotional health, especially if they’ve lost a parent or sibling.
The goal of the day camp is to provide a supportive and therapeutic experience in a fun camp environment where kids can find healing and hope after a loss, and find themselves around peers who understand what they’re going through.
“Parents and guardians often struggle in sharing the grief experience with their children,” Debbie said. “As they likely are grieving themselves, they may not fully understand how the grief of a child differs from the grief of an adult. Additional education is needed in the community to support these parents and guardians.”
Camp Monarch will help children’s parents and guardians as well, providing them with education addressing the complicated relationship grieving families may face.
