Express Yourself Camp Offers Support and Healing for Children Navigating Through Loss

Children comforted at grief camp

Express Yourself Camp: A Beacon for Children Grappling with Loss

In the bustling heart of Kansas City, a special summer camp is providing a haven for children facing the tough journey through grief. Express Yourself Camp is an annual initiative that offers a pensively curated program to support children wrestling with loss or significant changes in their young lives. Run in collaboration with Saint Luke’s Home Care and Hospice and the Girl Scouts of NE Kansas and NW Missouri, the camp delivers crucial emotional tools to assist children in their process of healing and recovery.

A Safe Space for Grieving Youngsters

Be it the death of a loved one, the experience of their parents’ divorce, the loss of their home or friends, or the passing of a trusted pet, children aged 5 to 14 years are welcomed into the camp from June 10 – 11. The camp also extends its helping hand to kids who are dealing with the emotional repercussions of tragedies such as the distressing events after the Chiefs victory parade earlier this year.

The camp takes place at the Camp Prairie Schooner, an idyllic location set away from the urban hustle, running from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Though linked to the Girl Scouts partnership, scout membership is not mandatory for attendance and the camp is open universally to all boys and girls meeting the age criteria.

Equipped Camp, Compassionate Counsel

With a professionally trained team composed of grief counselors and volunteers, Express Yourself Camp ensures the delivery of reassurance to campers. The staffers provide a safe environment for children to vent their feelings of loss and explore healthier means of expressing their grief.

The camp schedule unfolds into a series of activities designed according to age-groups that include music therapy, adventure programming, arts and crafts, skits, and a concluding ceremony. Similarly, the dietary needs of the campers are accounted for, with lunch and snacks provided during the camp duration.

Registration Details and Contact Information

The registration for the camp comes with a fee of $50, with a $10 discount available when registering a sibling. Registrations are open till June 2. For more information on the camp, parents and guardians can contact Melissa Tinklepaugh, Saint Luke’s Hospice Community Events Coordinator, at 816-502-8901.

Moreover, for seeking additional guidance regarding grief services by Saint Luke’s Home Care and Hospice, the bereavement office at Saint Luke’s Hospice House, the contact number is 816-502-8917.

Resolute in Compassion: The Spirit of Saint Luke’s

The Express Yourself Camp is an emblem of the commitment of Saint Luke’s Health System towards community welfare. With unwavering dedication to providing expert care and compassion, Saint Luke’s continues to be a beacon of hope for those battling the shadows of grief and loss.