Contributor: Jamie Richardson
Camp offers a journey through grief for children and teens dealing with the loss of a loved one.
This special day camp is organized annually by Hospice & Palliative Care of Cabarrus County and provides a safe and supportive environment for participants to express their feelings, share their experiences, and learn coping strategies.
🌈🤝 Campers participate in art sessions, trips to the splash pad, and a ballpark tour while forming meaningful connections with peers and staff, fostering a sense of community.
The camp is open to children aged 6 to 16 who have experienced the loss of a parent, sibling, grandparent, or other significant person in their lives.
Referrals come from school counselors, therapists, churches, hospice families, and other community organizations. The program is open to all, not just those serviced by hospice. They provide resources to aid children and teens in their grieving process, and by connecting them with their peers who have experienced a similar loss, they can find solace in the shared experience.
“Wings to Soar camp helped me with the grief of losing my father by teaching me healthy coping skills. They also gave me a safe space to speak about the loss of my father and to talk with others who also lost loved ones.” – Former camper
With the help of experienced hospice professionals and dedicated volunteers, campers learn that grief isn’t about forgetting someone, but about finding ways to remember them without the same amount of pain. What makes this camp special is its emphasis on creating a community of support, allowing campers to form meaningful connections with each other and with the staff that can last beyond the camp experience.
“As a parent, the session they offered us was really helpful. To know that there were other people who lost someone and were struggling like me. Trying to process their grief, while at the same time helping their children move through the grieving process.” ~ Parent of former camper
Thanks to generous donors, the camp is offered at no cost. The program is open to all, regardless of hospice service usage. Visit their website for application info.
If you know a child who could benefit from this program, consider reaching out to learn more about how to get involved. Applications must be completed by the end of May and will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.
⛳ Want to contribute to the organization’s programs and services? Play in the Golf for Hospice Tournament on October 23rd at the Club at Irish Creek in Kannapolis. Or you can simply make a donation to Hospice & Palliative Care of Cabarrus County on their website.
In addition to Wings to Soar Camp, Hospice and Palliative Care of Cabarrus County provides a wide variety of services to assist individuals and families who are dealing with serious illness and end-of-life care, including hospice care, palliative care, grief counseling, and community education and outreach. Our Wings to Soar program is a free community grief program designed to support those grieving the death of a loved one regardless of whether they received hospice services.
Planning to visit? Tell ’em Cabarrus Weekly sent ya!
