Thanks to a generous donor, Camp Brave Heart is adding an extra day to camp this year! It will be held August 4 – 7 at John Knox Ranch near Wimberley. Camp Brave Heart is a free camp for children age 6 – 17 who are grieving the death of a loved one. The camp is full of fun activities – canoeing, shaving cream fights, swimming and campfires – but interwoven in this fun are therapeutic exercises to help the campers with their grief.
One camper “Billy,” age 12, recently lost his dad and came to camp last summer withdrawn and angry. Billy did not want to participate in any activities on the first day of camp and even ran away into an empty building where counselors had to find him. On the second evening, all of the older campers gathered around a campfire to share their highs and lows of the day. The counselors assumed Billy would not want to participate but when it was his turn, Billy shared that his high was meeting kids just like him and his low was wasting the first day of camp. He said he had been afraid to feel. All the counselors were taken aback by Billy’s awareness of his grief and willingness to connect with his new friends at camp.
If you know a child who might benefit from this camp, applications for Camp Brave Heart are available now; visit www.HospiceAustin.org/CampBraveHeart or call (512) 342-4700. Get your application in soon; camp tends to fill up fast!
I’m so Thankful a friend has given me this information of your website about children unable to come to terms of losing their parents or someone close to them. I have a God-Daughter her name is Illianna who is 10 years old and has recently lost her father from Kidney Failure. We’ve tried to understand her, comfort, love, and there has been times that she’s really afraid, but angrier is where I’m really concerned with. We’ve seeked out Therapy starting May 22, 2014 and we want her to know we Love her so much. She’s my God-daughter and I’m just seeking for some help for her coping with the loss.
Please contact us if we can help — Maggie Cochran, our bereavement coordinator, can be reached at 512-342-4784 and she can let you know about free programs that we offer as well as other community resources that can help Illianna deal with this devastating loss. Camp Brave Heart, therapy and a loving, proactive network of support like she has in you will really help.
My brother Sidney Bedford Jr. died on July 18, 2013 and his Children are attending Camp Brave Heart in Wimberly, Texas…..Please consider Aiyana Johnson my granddaughter Date of Birth August 29th,2003……My son Desionee Bedford was a client in 1998, he died May 13th, 1998 diagnosed November 21st, 1997 of Idiopathic Cardiomyopathy. The children of my late brother are in CPS Custody living with my sister. My name is Shivon Bedford-Sumpter it has been 17 year’s since I have been in touch with Hospice of Austin and as time goes along I am able to reflect on your agency, for the Love of Christi, Any Baby Can, and the Make-A Wish Foundation. No, I will never forget Hospice of Austin…never!
We are so sorry for the loss of your son and your brother. Please call our bereavement department right away to see if there is still space for your granddaughter — 512-342-4700. Best of luck to you and your family!