Spaces still available for Camp New Hope Aug. 4-7

Delaware Hospice has spaces available at its Camp New Hope, which will be held Monday to Thursday, Aug. 4 to 7, at Redden Forest State Park for children and teens who are coping with the loss of a loved one.

Since 1990, Delaware Hospice’s New Hope program has offered individual and family grief counseling to more than 3,500 children and adolescents ages 6-17.

The New Hope program, including Camp New Hope, is a free community outreach program. No fee is charged for this activity, thanks to the generosity of donors and volunteers.

New Hope supports children referred from the community as well as members of Delaware Hospice families.

The New Hope program is based on the belief that children can be supported in the process of grief reconciliation if they are provided with opportunities to express their feelings.

Camp New Hope is the annual highlight of the New Hope Program. This inspirational day camp takes place over four days, connecting children in similar age groups in order to help them process their feelings of loss and grief. Many have lost a parent, sibling, or grandparent due to illness or sudden death.

Children and teens are encouraged to express themselves by creating art projects such as murals, memory boxes, and memorial tree decorations. They may participate in role play; discuss their feelings in a one-on-one setting; enjoy group discussion with peers and counselors; play, dance, exercise, and find they are not alone in their grief.

Each camp concludes with a special memorial service attended by parents and family members. At the service, the children present art projects that each group has created to remember their loved ones. In past years, children have created murals with finger paints, memory boxes, hearts made with art plaster, and even a memorial garden of potted flowers. The children also plant a tree and decorate it with ornaments bearing the name of the loved one who has died. These ornaments are handmade in shapes and colors that remind the child of the person they hold dear.

Learn more about Camp New Hope by contacting Robin Murphy, New Hope coordinator for Kent and Sussex counties, at 302-678-4444 or rmurphy1@delawarehospice.org.