Ballad Health’s Camp Firefly returns to help guide children, teens through grief

Ballad Health’s annual Camp Firefly event returns to Warriors’ Path State Park on Saturday, Sept. 12, offering an interactive day to help children, teens and their families navigate grief.

The camp runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is designed to meet the needs of children and teens who have experienced the death of a loved one. Adult caregivers are encouraged to attend Camp Firefly alongside their children, as the camp offers separate services to help adults understand how to support a child’s grieving process, cope with their own grief and respond to a child’s unique needs. A panel of experienced professionals will be available to answer questions.

“Grief can be extremely lonely and isolating, and kids sometimes don’t have the words to explain what they need when they are processing the loss of a loved one,” said Sarah Hale, volunteer and bereavement coordinator for Ballad Health Hospice. “That’s where Camp Firefly comes in. Young people who are grieving can connect with counselors and mental health professionals, as well as other kids who are going through similar experiences.

“It’s an interactive day to help children process grief. Our hope is that these kids leave Camp Firefly with a sense of hope and healing.”

Hospice workers offer a variety of interventions and services to children and teens who attend Camp Firefly, including one-on-one sessions with counselors; quiet times for meditation, prayer or reflection; being paired with a buddy; and busy times with vigorous, hands-on activities. Ballad Health pet therapy dogs will also be on site.

“Everyone is different in how they react to the loss of a loved one and how they grieve,” Hale said. “We’re here to help kids find whatever way works for them, whether that’s through silent prayer and meditation, exercise or other physical activity.”

Camp Firefly is free to attend and provides a safe, fun and compassionate atmosphere for campers and their families to explore their feelings. Throughout the day, campers will be able to:

• Develop an age-appropriate understanding of death
• Connect with peers who have experienced similar losses
• Improve self-esteem
• Reduce feelings of isolation
• Establish and strengthen coping skills

Campers ages 4 to 17 are welcome to participate and will be grouped with peers in a similar age range, giving each camper the opportunity to discuss their feelings of grief, celebrate their lost loved ones through memory-focused activities and learn healthy coping skills. Trained volunteers will serve as camp buddies to guide campers through activities, led by professional social workers, counselors and nurses.

Lunch will be provided, and the camp day will conclude with a memorial ceremony.

Preregistration for Camp Firefly is now open. Day-of registrations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Register or learn more about Camp Firefly online, or call Ballad Health Hospice at 423-431-6146.