Rainbow Kidz program hosted its Annual Camp Rainbow June 3rd –13th

 “It was an incredibly powerful two weeks where courageous children were given the opportunity to learn healthy ways to cope with their grief and fill their toolbox! The sense of connection with the children, with the volunteers-they see they’re not alone on this journey and were given lifetime tools to learn how to deal with their grief,” says Rainbow Kidz Director Leigh Ann Darty, LCSW.

Camp Rainbow offers a mix of fun activities, and structured creative curriculum to foster coping and healing. Camp transforms typical camp activities into useful therapeutic experiences that address grief. The goal of camp is to help children honor their loved one and learn important coping skills to address their grief. Almost 100 volunteers and community guests helped with the campers and behind the scenes to make this camp possible.

“To see grieving children, most of whom have had a sudden or traumatic loss, walk in on the first day with heads down and with heavy hearts, and then to see them leave at the end of the week with smiles and friends, bonded through grief, certainly warmed my heart,” says Brenda Burk, Camp Rainbow volunteer and HPCIC board member.

Activities during the 2024 camp included equine therapy, yoga, karate, therapeutic crafts, swimming, dance, acting, drumming circle and grief support groups. Therapy dogs were at camp daily from Highland Canine and HOPE Animal-Assisted Crisis Response. Camp Rainbow concludes each 4-day camp with a special memorial service for campers and their families. Families are invited to participate with their children in the service to memorialize their loved one. A special parent/caregiver grief support session is held beforehand with the Rainbow Kidz grief counselors.

For more information about HPCIC’s services and programming, please contact Mindy Rice 704-873-4719 or via email at mindyr@hoic.org.