Speaker: Eric Trumbower.. Camp Erin of Philadelphia (part of the Eluna network)
Eric is the Manager of Volunteer Services & Director, Camp Erin Philadelphia a part of Penn Medicine Hospice
Camp Erin Philadelphia is a weekend overnight camp for grieving children and teens ages 6-17. The camp combines traditional, fun, high-energy camp activities with grief education and support.
Services provided through Penn Medicine Hospice: Bereavement Services; Grief outreach to families in 2nd and 3rd year of grief process; Individual support; Community support for long term care facilities
Pre Pandemic, the 3 day camp brought the kids together; regular visitation of residents in Long Term Care Facilities; Individual and group support groups
Post Pandemic, camp was canceled, most of Grief support events were canceled, individual support was virtual as was community support.
The grief process did not stop for those children dealing with the loss of a loved one. The program did not stop either but it merely shifted into a slightly different format especially for the children. A program was developed to send a package three times a year to 117 families which included projects the children would do similar to those they would have done in camp. This is an amazing program and despite most of the children being kept inside because of the pandemic, the program leaders continued to find ways to help the children deal with the grief of losing a loved one.