Austin Hatcher Foundation Hosts Annual Grief Camp to Support Families Affected by Childhood Cancer
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (July 22, 2024) – The Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer successfully hosted its annual “Grief Camp” on July 17th, a one-day event dedicated to helping families cope with the loss of a loved one. The camp, filled with engaging activities and a special focus on grief, aimed to honor and celebrate the memory of those who have passed away.
“Grief is a complicated topic for people, no matter the age,” said Mindy Brown, MS, CTRS, the Foundation’s Recreational Therapist. “Through our grief services, we aim to provide an environment for kids to explore the complex thoughts and emotions related to grief in a safe environment with peers who have shared experiences.”
This year’s theme was “The ABCs of Grief,” which provided a structured approach to understanding and coping with grief. The camp was open to children ages 4-12, who have been affected by pediatric cancer (whether it is themselves or a sibling) and have experienced loss.
“This year, we went back to the basics of grief where we spent the day exploring how to put words to our feelings using the book 'The ABCs of Grief,’” said Brown. “We used art-based exercises to express emotions with a twist. The kids were challenged to express grief without words, just by using the art supplies.”
The Foundation's licensed clinical team led various activities designed to be both educational and comforting, ensuring they were suitable for a variety of developmental stages. They engaged in art, music, physical activities, and take-home projects, all crafted to teach effective grief coping strategies in a supportive and uplifting environment.
Campers played a game of “Feelings Ball Burst” in the afternoon, where teams worked together to model the different ways that grief can build inside of us, using stacking cups to build unique structures. Each camper was empowered to make an outward expression of their grief by choosing a colored ball that best matched the feelings or memories connected to their grief journey. Participants then got to demonstrate how “we can physically release our feelings when they build up to the point of bursting,” by throwing their “bursting feelings” of “red anger” and “blue sadness” among others while the Foundation’s team of clinicians helped make connections between what was happening in the game, and how it can be a metaphor for real life.
“In the ‘Feelings Ball Burst’ game, campers had fun releasing their feelings and knocking down cups, all while enhancing their holistic wellbeing,” shared the Foundation’s Family Service Coordinator, Sarah Taylor.
“Grief Camp” at the Austin Hatcher Foundation is designed to create a positive, reassuring space where children and families can remember their loved ones while learning how to navigate their emotions. The camp reinforces that grieving is a natural process and offers tools to manage this journey.
“As children get older, they will continue to process grief at varying stages in life, and it's important to create a foundation of understanding that there is no "right" way to grieve,” said Brown. “Through programs like Grief Camp, we are able to see the value of exploring tough subjects like grief and loss for kids through play while also providing social opportunities and learning how to live life despite the hard experiences each of them has had. As someone who gets to work with the kids individually, it was such a rewarding experience to witness the growth these kids have had over time. I was so proud watching them apply the skills they have learned over time with various members of our treatment team, their families, and our community partners, who are all showing up for these kids affected by childhood cancer.”
For more information about the Austin Hatcher Foundation’s programs and support services for families affected by childhood cancer, please visit www.hatcherfoundation.org.
