A Grief Journey at Ridge Haven
June 28 - July 3, 2010 | Grades 3 - 13

The cost for Brave Heart Camp at Ridge Haven is $450. (The $75 registration fee is included).

"The LORD your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing."
Zephaniah 3:17

It takes such courage for someone to walk the journey of grief after the death of someone they love dearly. Most people are not prepared for the intense and overwhelming emotions and loneliness that occur during this time. Therefore, Ridge Haven Camp is offering a week of summer camp to support children and teenagers (3rd through 12th grade) who have faced the pain of the death of a parent, sibling, grandparent, relative or special friend. This is a Christ centered camp designed to meet the unique spiritual and emotional needs of youth who are grieving.

When someone's world has been shaken, this is the time when his or her world life views become essential. Our hope is in God's love, faithfulness and presence in our lives no matter the storms. Grief is such a paradox. Paul explains it by saying we will grieve but not like those without hope. We can have deep emotions of hopelessness and truths of hope all at the same time. After Lazarus died in John 11, Martha, his sister, said to Jesus, "Lord if you had been here my brother would not have died." To Martha Jesus gave the theology lesson of the hope we have in the resurrection. Mary said the same words to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here my brother would not have died." With Mary He wept. Jesus expressed the paradox of grief in that one moment. Even when Jesus knew the end of the story, as we now know, of the miracle of Him giving Lazarus back his life, still Jesus was deeply moved and wept.

There will be times of singing and worship and Bible studies to renew our faith in the comfort of God's love. The campers will be divided into three groups, senior high school, middle school and juniors. Each group will have separate speakers to address the spiritual and emotional needs specifically for their group. This is such an important time to have this biblical integration into real life experiences. Death stimulates questions most people don't dare to ask. What a great time and place to safely ask them.

This will be a great week where trained camp counselors will walk alongside each child and explain the process of the grief journey. Youth express their grief by doing things. A camp experience is a wonderful outlet to learn to identify and express their emotions in healthy ways as they face the challenges of hiking, the ropes course, and the climbing wall. The camper will have the opportunity to make a memory box in honor of their loved one. It is important to prepare them for future moments of grief such as graduations, birthdays, weddings and all of the times their loved one should be there. The happiest day of a young lady's wedding day may also be the saddest day because her dad is not there to walk her down the aisle. That again is the paradox of grief, being happy and sad at the same time. By understanding how these moments of grief are normal and someone can miss the one they love so much but continue to live a full and happy life helps them to adjust in a healthier manner.
      
A wonderful camp experience is a treasured time for these campers to realize they are not the only ones going through this. What a comfort to know they are not alone. It is nice to have fun and still know it is safe for them to express a painful emotion if they want support.

The death of a loved one is not something a person "gets over," but they will "get through it" and adjust. There is the hope of learning God's plan and purpose for their lives. God has an exciting future for each one of these campers. He has given each one of them gifts, talents and experience. Camp is a great time to be challenged to discover them.

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future… You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart..."
Jeremiah 29:11-14

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you..."
Isaiah 43:2

Brave Heart Camp Director

Martha M. Furman, LPC, LMFT has been in the counseling field since 1979, after receiving her masters from Covenant Seminary. She is currently in private practice in Roanoke, VA. Martha has worked with Gentle Shepherd Hospice facilitating grief support groups for all ages for over 11 years. Martha has developed and facilitates Camp Brave Heart.