2017 National Bereavement Camp Conference Activity Booklet
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2017 National Bereavement Camp Conference Activity Booklet A compilation of the favorite and successful activities from the camp programs represented at the 2017 National Bereavement Camp Conference A Camp to Remember 2 Breaking and Mending our Hearts 3 Ask the Funeral Director 4 Because the Sky is Everywhere 6 Death & Dying Panel 7 Road to Healing 7 Big Energy/Big Feelings 8 Bleach Bowl 10 Coping Skills Scavenger Hunt 12 Creative Expression Through Writing 14 Water Balloon Emoji’s 2.0 16 Drumming (with Bill Kehl) 17 Emoto‐Coconuts 18 Broken Flower Pot 19 Family Tree 20 Group Challenge 22 Heart Mending 24 The Island Games 26 Labyrinth 27 Memory Pillowcase 28 Memory Stone 29 Movement Choir 30 My Self‐Portrait 31 Pack Your Bags 32 Photo Scavenger Hunt 33 Plate Toss 36 Rain Sticks 37 Remembrance Heart 38 Scavenger Hunt 40 Story Switch 42 Tree of Support 43 Worry Dolls 44 Your One Word 44 Cognitive Behavioral Trading Cards (CBTC) 45 Community Building Scavenger Hunt 48 A Camp to Remember Organization: Tamarack Grief Resource Center Camp Program Name: A Camp to Remember Contact: Tina Barrett ‐ [email protected] Age Range: 6 ‐ Adult Group Size: 5 ‐ 25. We've created mobiles with small groups and with large, multi‐age groups at Family Camp. Purpose/Clinical Goal: Identify sources of strength and hope. Create individual customized symbolic take‐aways that illuminate personal sources of inspiration. Materials Sticks and twigs Embroidery floss, hemp and/or yarn Fancy paper Markers Inspirational quotes Feathers Pine cones Beads Fabric scraps Ribbon Dried Flowers Scissors Directions Group discussion During challenging times, we can gain comfort, strength, and hope in different ways. What brings you strength when you face challenges? Are there certain memories or people that bring you peace? Are there particular places where you feel grounded and safe? Is there a phrase that inspires you? Participants choose a twig to serve as the main structure of their mobile. They are encouraged to select beads, flowers, ribbons, feathers, etc., that symbolize inspiring memories, people, places, or words of wisdom. These can be attached or dangled from the stick to create a Mobile of Inspiration. An additional string can be attached to serve as a hanger. 2017 National Bereavement Camp Conference Activity Booklet 2 Breaking and Mending our Hearts Organization: Fairview Youth Grief Services Camp Program Name: Camp Erin‐Twin Cities Contact: Jenny Simmonds ‐ [email protected] Age Range: 9 ‐ 17 years old Group Size: 6 ‐ 10, with at least 2 adults per group Purpose/Clinical Goal: To demonstrate how life can feel broken and shattered soon after your special person died. But eventually we can “mend” or heal—although it will never be the same. Hence, the tile is once again whole after it’s glued together, but will never be exactly the way it was before. Materials One Unbroken Tile (to show) Broken Tiles in Ziplocs (1/camper) o We get them donated from a local tile shop Glue guns and glue sticks Extension cords Sharpies Directions Show your group members the whole tile. Say to them, “This tile symbolizes the relationship with your loved one before their death and how everything felt whole.” Then show them a bag with a broken tile. “This broken tile symbolizes what it was like right after your loved one died. Everything feels shattered and changed.” Let them choose a broken tile and, using the glue gun, instruct them to carefully glue their tiles back together again. (THE HOT GLUE GUN IS VERY HOT! THE LEADERS NEEDS TO CAREFULLY SUPERVISE THIS!) After the tile is “mended”/put back together, say to the group, “Your tile is back together in one piece again, but will never look like it did prior to the break. That is like our loss. As time goes by, the hurt and pain we feel won’t feel as broken as it first did, but it will always be there, like a scar. You will always feel the “cracks” and “bumps” because your loved one is gone, but it’ll get smoother over time.” Give them an opportunity to decorate their tile that best reflects their family changes since the death—both the difficult changes and the positive ones. HINT: Break the tiles prior to camp by simply putting each tile in a Ziploc bag and tapping it with a hammer so that it breaks into 2‐4 pieces. You don’t want too many pieces for them to glue back together. 2017 National Bereavement Camp Conference Activity Booklet 3 Ask The Funeral Director Organization: Carefor Health and Community Services Eastern Counties Camp Program Name: Camp Erin Eastern Ontario Contact: Michele Smith ‐ [email protected] Age Range: 6 ‐ 17 years old Group Size: 6 – 10 campers Purpose/Clinical Goal: To learn about death rituals and promote self‐expression. Materials Paper Box Pens Pencils Directions This session gave campers an opportunity to ask a funeral director any questions the camper may have had about what happens to the person’s body, after they die, once they arrive at the funeral home. The campers wrote questions on a piece of paper and placed them in a box. The funeral director visited each cabin to respond to the questions in an intimate and supported environment. Cabin buddies and grief facilitators were present to provide support. Sample sheet provided on the next page. 2017 National Bereavement Camp Conference Activity Booklet 4 ASK THE FUNERAL DIRECTOR: ___________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ ASK THE FUNERAL DIRECTOR: ___________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ ASK THE FUNERAL DIRECTOR: ___________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ ASK THE FUNERAL DIRECTOR: ___________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ 2017 National Bereavement Camp Conference Activity Booklet 5 Because the Sky is Everywhere Organization: Shimmering Wings Camp Program Name: Camp Erin Denver Contact: Barb Kamlet ‐[email protected] and Nancy Sharp ‐ [email protected] Age Range: 5 – 12 years old Group Size: Cabin group Purpose/Clinical Goal: To help campers relate to the concept that just like the sky is everywhere, so is the love of the person(s) who died as they move those who died from presence to memory Materials Cake rounds Markers Colored pencils/crayons Glue sticks Glow in the dark stars Star Stickers 3‐4” paper stars Painted sky picture/poster Directions Read the story, “Because the Sky Is Everywhere”. Have each camper design his/her own sky on a cardboard round. Discuss the activity using the following talking points: Tell us about the sky you created What did you like about creating it? Was there anything hard about creating it? When do you feel your sky changes? What do you need when your sky changes? Who are the people who can help you when your sky gets cloudy? What things have you done that have helped you? Have you ever had a magical moment when you looked at the sky? What does a ___________ (angry, sad, confused, worried, happy, nervous and content) sky look like? What does it feel like? Did you learn something new about yourself or your grief because of your sky? What do you want others to know about your sky? At the end of the activity, invite each camper to write the name of the person(s) who died on a 3‐ 4” star and place it on the pre‐painted sky picture to leave up during camp to remember those who died. 2017 National Bereavement Camp Conference Activity Booklet 6 Death & Dying Panel Organization: Willow Center Camp Program Name: Camp Erin Lewis ‐Clark Valley Contact: Shay Wood ‐ campdirector@willow‐center.org Age Range: 6‐17 Group Size: All campers and staff Purpose/Clinical Goal: To allow campers to ask questions from an expert’s point of view. Materials A panel of experts (We have a doctor, nurse, mortician,