Camp in Monongalia County helps children work through grief

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (WBOY) – Grief can be hard for anyone to go through, and for kids in West Virginia, there is a free program that helps children from ages six to 14 process a death or significant loss in their life.

On Saturday, WV Caring held their annual one-day Bereavement Camp. This year it was held at the Chestnut Ridge Park, and five kids attended from across the 12 counties the program serves.

“The big areas that we are hitting are the ways that we move our body in order to regulate ourselves. We’re hitting the creative arts, so painting and drawing, and even writing and journaling. Ways that we make new things and find ways to make meaning out of awful, terrible things that have happened to us, “ Emily Harden, Bereavement Coordinator WV Caring, told 12 News.

One of the arts and crafts the children made was a scream box made out of cereal boxes and paper towel rolls. One child told 12 News using the box did make them feel better and they had fun putting it together.

The children then also got time to go for a nature walk and ended the day with a kind of memorial service.

WV Caring receives a grant to provide this service, which is open to all kids who have experienced loss, including children in foster care.

If you would like to learn more about how you can sign up your child for next year, you can visit this link .

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