Ottawa area camp one of three in Canada offering support to grieving children

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 11, 2019

Ottawa – On June 14 – 16, Camp Erin® will give children and teens, who are grieving the loss of a loved one, the chance to learn techniques to manage their grief in a fun outdoor environment. Since 2015, Carefor has been operating Camp Erin in Osgoode, Ontario, with the support of Eluna, a US based network supporting children and families impacted by grief and addiction. Eluna partners with bereavement programs in local communities to help fund, develop and grow Camp Erin nationwide.

Led by bereavement professionals and caring volunteers, campers are provided a safe environment to explore their grief, learn essential coping skills, and make friends with peers who are also grieving. Additional services are offered to support the whole family outside of the camp weekend. Through a network of partnerships with bereavement programs in local communities across the US and Canada, Camp Erin brings hope and healing to thousands of children and families annually and is offered at no cost to families.

“Camp Erin is a unique program,” says Michele Smith, Camp Director of Camp Erin Eastern Ontario. “It combines grief education and emotional support with fun, traditional camp activities. It helps kids deal with some very heavy emotions while still feeling like kids.”

“Camp Erin is the largest national network of grief programs for bereaved children and teens,” says Bethany Gardner, Eluna Director of Bereavement Programs. “It is building a community of support to help children and teens grieve the death of a significant person in their lives.”

While, there are 46 Camp Erin locations across North America, there are only three in Canada, the other two being in Montreal and Toronto.
Michele Smith and Bethany Gardner are available for further comment. In addition, a volunteer at this year’s camp who has previously attended as a camper will be available for interview.

About Camp Erin

• Created and supported by Eluna, Camp Erin® is the largest national bereavement program for youth grieving the death of a significant person in their lives.
• Children and teens ages 6 to 17 attend a weekend camp experience that combines grief education and emotional support with fun, traditional camp activities.
• Led by bereavement professionals and caring volunteers, campers are provided a safe environment to explore their grief, learn essential coping skills, and make friends who are also grieving.
• Additional services are offered to support the whole family outside of the camp weekend.
• Through a network of partnerships with bereavement programs in local communities across the US and Canada, Camp Erin brings hope and healing to thousands of children and families annually.
• Camp Erin is offered at no cost to families.

About Carefor

Carefor is a local not-for-profit charity that provides home healthcare and community support services across Eastern Ontario. Whether in the home, in the community, at care facilities or one of our clinics, our 1,500 staff are part of the circle of care that is tailored to our clients’ needs. For more information, please visit www.carefor.ca.

About Eluna

Eluna is a public, 501(c)(3) non-profit with a mission to support children and families impacted by grief or addiction. Founded in 2000 in Seattle by former MLB pitcher Jamie Moyer and child advocate Karen Phelps Moyer, Eluna was originally called The Moyer Foundation and launched a series of programs supporting thousands of children and families annually at no cost to them. Camp Erin® is the largest national network
of grief programs for bereaved children and teens, Camp Mariposa® is a national addiction prevention and mentoring program for youth impacted by a family member’s substance use disorder, and the Eluna
Resource Center offers online tools, local referrals and personalized phone and email support for families experiencing grief, addiction and other related issues. For more information, please visit www.elunanetwork.org.

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For more information, contact:

Trevor Eggleton
Communications, Marketing and Fundraising Manager
O: 613-903-6565
C: 613-415-8675
E: teggleton@carefor.ca