Prairie Mountain Health is set to host their 17th annual Camp Bridges, a weekend dedicated to supporting bereaved children and teens.
The camp will take place at Circle Square Ranch in Austin from May 23 to 25. Camp Bridges aims to provide a safe, supportive, and fun environment where grieving children and teens can share their thoughts and feelings with those who are experiencing similar losses.
Melissa Peters, the Regional Palliative Care Coordinator for Prairie Mountain Health, explains the camp's mission.
"Our motto is ‘love builds bridges where there are none’. We aim to provide an experience for these bereaved children and teens within a safe, supportive environment while also having fun. We want them to interact and share their feelings with other children in similar circumstances. This helps to facilitate their understanding of grief and recognizing that they're not alone."
Camp Bridges offers a variety of activities designed to help kids process their grief and honour the memories of their loved ones.
“We make a memorial box, so they decorate their box based on however they feel. Then they can put the memories of those that they have lost inside, and they can forever go back to that memory box and remember things about them. We do a butterfly release with everyone. We also make hope stones for them to hang on to and give them some inspiration. It shows that rocks weather many storms and it helps to shape the stone and make it stronger.”
Campers in the past have also created pillows from articles of clothing or material which belonged to their deceased loved ones. With the help of volunteer sewers, campers can craft a comforting keepsake which provides a sense of connection to their loved ones who are no longer with them.
Camp Bridges accepts 40 applicants each year, welcoming children and youth between the ages of 7 and 15 who reside in Manitoba. The camp is designed to complement existing bereavement services by offering a weekend of "caring, sharing, and memories." The application deadline for this year's camp is April 23.
For more information or to apply, interested parties can contact a member of the Camp Bridges Planning Committee or find the application on their website at Camp Bridges - Prairie Mountain Health. The camp continues to be a bridge of hope and support, ensuring children and teens know they are not alone in their journey.
“We want them to recognize that their feelings are normal, so we acknowledge loss and grief while honoring memories.”