Camp Forget-Me-Not

Camp Forget-Me-Not is a two-day camp for children in grades 1-7 who have experienced the death of a family member or other loved one. The camp will provide grieving children with:

• the opportunity to share their feelings and memories with other children who are coping with similar loss
• creative educational activities to help them understand their feelings of grief and loss
• the chance to remember their loved ones and honor their expressions of grief
• a fun weekend with other children who understand, so they do not feel alone in their grief

The camp is staffed by professionals and trained volunteers who provide support groups, creative learning and camp activities such as games, relay races, crafts, role play, a scavenger hunt and nature walks. The camp experience closes with a memorial ceremony and balloon release called "Messages of Hope." Family members are encouraged to attend this ceremony.

Who's Who at Camp

Campers: Are children between 1st and 7th grade who have lost a loved one due to death. Children must be pre-registered by a parent or guardian.

Camp Buddies: Assist the group facilitator as a buddy assigned to an individual camper (or two) within a group. The adult camp buddy will focus on their assigned camper/campers throughout the entire weekend and accompany the camper, to each camp activity, and support group. In each group there will be about 8-9 campers and the appropriate number of Camp buddies and one or two facilitators.

Camp Adults: Are adults who will be at camp to help with various activities such as registration, crafts, nature walks, food and campfire activities.

Camp Nurse: Is a registered nurse that normally provides nursing services to our Hospice patients. The camp nurse will participate in activities as desired and as needed. However, the nurse's main role will be to register all medications and control distribution of medications to campers and to aid in caring for any unexpected illness while at camp.

Special Hospice Programs: Camp Forget-Me-Not Food for the Soul Hike for Hospice Hospice Rose Club Tuesdays Program

2009 Camp Forget-Me-Not Click here for more information.

Camp Forget-Me-Not is offered through the collaborative efforts of mid-Michigan's three nonprofit hospices - Visiting Nurse Services of Michigan, Hospice of Lansing and Sparrow Hospice Services - and Ele's Place, a healing center for grieving children. For the first time in 2007, these four charitable organizations who are dedicated to serving their community worked together to provide this camp in support of grieving children. For more information, please call 800.722.9449 or 517.367.5923. Sponsored by: Hospices for Exceptional Care and Ele's Place Visiting Nurse Services of Michigan-Hospice 825 E. Michigan Avenue Lansing, MI 48912 Hospice of Lansing 6035 Executive Dr., Suite 103 Lansing, MI 48911 Sparrow Hospice Services 1210 W. Saginaw Lansing, MI 48915 Ele's Place 1145 W. Oakland Avenue Lansing, MI 48915

Support Group Facilitators: Are trained hospice staff members and/or trained volunteer social workers, who will facilitate the grief support groups for the campers. They will also provide guidance to camp buddies and campers and be directly involved in assigned activities.

Camp Director: This is a Hospice staff member responsible for the organization of the camp, and who will assure the proper follow through of the camp's responsibilities by appropriate staff and volunteers.