 
Because children grieve differently than adults, the Circle of Hope program of Niagara Hospice offers Camp Hope.
Camp Hope is a FREE annual bereavement camp for children age 7-13 that was established in August 2001 to address the special needs of grieving children.
At Camp Hope, children play and talk together about their losses, share emotions with others, and recognize that grief is a natural response to losing a loved one. Together, they learn to help each other with their grief and learn ways to help themselves.
Children enjoy Camp activities with others in their age group. Fun activities include:
- A memorial bonfire to remember loved ones
- Arts and crafts
- Music
- Rock wall climbing
- Pet visits
- Swimming, basketball, canoeing and more
The children come away from camp with coping tools to help them work through their grief, many fond memories, and Camp Hope mementos. About 6-8 weeks later, children, staff and volunteers are invited to a Camp Hope reunion where they review progress since Camp and receive the Camp Hope yearbook, a record of their camp experience.
Camp Hope is available to children throughout Western New York and was the first hospice bereavement camp for children in our area. For more information, to register or volunteer for Camp Hope, please call the Circle of Hope at (716) 280-0777 or click on the links below for printable forms.
2010 Camp Hope Brochure
Camper Application
Camper Health Form
Volunteer Consent Form
Volunteer Application
 “She returned from Camp with a very positive attitude, and was more relaxed and at ease…feeling that her Grandmother was still with her, even though she could not physically see her.”
- Cheylynne’s Mother
Normal Grief Reactions
There are several other resources availabe to help cope with the loss of a loved one. Our staff has recommended the following that may be of use to children and adolescents:
Bereaved Children & Teens - Author: Earl A. Grollman
Facing Change: A Book about Loss and Change for Teens - Author: Donna O’Toole
Tiger Eyes - Author: Judy Blume
Saying Goodbye - Author: Jim and Jea Boulden
How Smudge Came - Author: Nan Gregory
The Fall of Freddie the Leaf - Author: Leo Buscaglia
Lifetimes - Author: Bryan Mellonie
The Velveteen Rabbit - Author: William Nicholson
Until We Meet Again - Author: Susan Jones |