 A specialized weekend grief support camp for children and teens
Camp ErinTM-King County is a weekend camp for children and teenagers between the ages of 5-17 years of age who are grieving the death of a loved one. It is free of charge to participants made possible through an initial grant from The Moyer Foundation. The camp is named after Erin Metcalf, a 17 year old patient of Providence Hospice of Snohomish County who died in 2000 and was a close friend of the Moyer family. This is the third year that Camp Erin was offered for 48 participants the weekend of August 25-27 in King County at Camp River Ranch near Carnation, Washington. It is facilitated by professional staff and trained volunteers of the Safe Crossings program of Providence Hospice of Seattle. Adult “Big Buddy” volunteers offer additional support and companionship for campers. More than your usual camp
Camp Erin is a traditional, high energy, fun camp coupled with grief support and education. Some typical camp activities include nature walks, field sports, evening campfires, arts and crafts as well as kayaking and boating. It also provides opportunities for healing not found in other settings. “Camp Erin offers a caring environment. It is very powerful for the campers to have an opportunity to be with others like themselves who are experiencing the same things,” says, Clarice Redmond, former Camp Director. Information/Registration
Camp ErinTM-King County is free to participants, but registration is required. Registration is not yet open for the 2007 camp which will be held the last weekend in August. Please check back for further informtiaon about volunteering or attending.  Comments from the 2006 Camp Erin-King County:
A parent of two campers wrote ~
"How can I ever repay you for the great work that Camp Erin has povided me? I was so happy I couldn't sop the tears of joy." The Moyer Foundation
In 2004 The Moyer Foundation provided a grant in the amount of $125,000 to launch Camp ErinTM-King County, funding the camp's first year start up costs and to provide Providence Hospice of Seattle with a Camp Erin Endowment, to ensure its long term health. Camp Erin-King County is offered each year at no cost to grieving children of King County.
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