Camp Erin: Because No Child Should Grieve Alone
Valley of Life is now working with Camp Erin, a network of bereavement camps founded by The Moyer Foundation, to facilitate its kids camps with A Guide to Children and Grief, the new ebook by Miri Rossitto, founder of Valley of Life.
Currently, Camp Erin is the largest network of bereavement camps in the country with 28 camps in 18 states. The camp is named in memory of Erin Metcalf, a young woman who developed liver cancer at the age of 15. When hospitalized, Erin often expressed concern for the other children there as well as their siblings who sometimes received little attention. When Erin died just two years later in 2000, Jamie and Karen Moyer wished to honor Erin’s memory and her caring spirit. Acknowledging her love of children and her desire to help others, the Moyers felt that a grief camp for children would be an appropriate tribute.
Now, at Camp Erin, grieving children have the opportunity to rest in the comfort and acceptance of their peers, understand that their feelings, though painful, are normal, and discover mediums through which they can memorialize the loved ones they’ve lost. In fact, as Camp Erin looks to expand its reaches, it will be utilizing Valley of Life Memorial Albums as a part of its program.
According to Jamie Moyer, “As the Foundation expands Camp Erin, we have the opportunity to reach out to communities nationwide to help bring Camp Erin to more kids who are grieving the loss of a loved one. It’s a great opportunity for communities all over to embrace this need, making a positive impact in the lives of children that will last their lifetime.”
“When you look into the eyes of these children, you see their hearts through their stories. They are struggling to cope with and accept their circumstance, but they are learning that there is hope, that they are not alone, and there is light in their eyes that maybe wasn’t there before,” says Karen Moyer. “We feel blessed to have been a part of this healing process and our hope is that we can bring this experience to more children so that no child grieves alone.”
As such, Valley of Life is proud to support the mission and efforts of Camp Erin and The Moyer Foundation.
Tags: A Guide to Children and Grief, Camp Erin, Erin Metcalf, Jamie Moyer, liver cancer, Memorial Albums, The Moyer Foundation
