Aware of the great need for grief support for children in West Central Minnesota, The Grief Center at Rice Memorial Hospital offers a multi-site summer grief camp for kids in grades 1-6 called Camp G.K. Bear.
Through generous donations, grants and the help of Rice Hospice volunteers, Camp G.K. Bear is offered free of charge. This camp provides children an opportunity to better understand their own grieving process as well as taking part in some fun activities
The day's program for the camp centers around for main themes:
- the life/death cycle
- feelings
- memories
- change and moving forward
The children create a "Memory Box" to collect items that belonged to the person(s) who died and are special to the child. A workbook was specifically designed that would be partially worked on during camp and then completed at home
In 1998 Camp G.K. Bear received the "Innovation of the Year Award for Patient Care Enhancement." from the Minnesota Hospital and Healthcare Partnership.
