After two years of dormancy because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Methodist Family Health’s Camp Healing Hearts is back this year with a day camp for Arkansas children and families struggling with grief. Coordinated by Kaleidoscope Grief Center, which is a program of Methodist Family Health, Camp Healing Hearts is free to families attending and will begin at 8 a.m. on May 21 at Camp Aldersgate in Little Rock. This camp is open to any family in Arkansas who is grieving the death of a loved one.
Camp Healing Hearts is for Arkansas children ages five to 18 and their families who have lost a loved one and are coping with grief and bereavement. Utilizing both therapy and recreation, Camp Healing Hearts offers children and families an opportunity to discover their own inner strength.
The camp includes heart-to-heart time, swimming, fishing, crafts, games, campfires and s'mores, and much more. An adult caregiver is required to accompany the grieving child or children attending camp. Only 100 spaces are available, so those interested in attending are encouraged to complete and return an application prior to the deadline, which is 4:30 p.m. on May 5.
Camp Healing Hearts is made possible by community partners in the Alliance for Grief and Loss, including Arkansas Children's Hospital, Little Rock School District, Pulaski County Special School District, Griffin-Leggett Funeral Homes, and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.
For an application, visit MethodistFamily.org. For more information about Camp Healing Hearts or Kaleidoscope Grief Center, contact Dao Ward at dward@methodistfamily.org or call (501) 537-3991 or (800) 756-3709 toll-free.