The Garden - What It Is & How It Works


	About the Garden - What It Is & How It Works

	What It Is - The loss of a loved one is difficult at any age, but for young people it can be particularly hard to understand the emotions and the issues related to death and dying. Camp Wildflower - June 28, 2008 marks the inauguration of Camp Wildflower - an annual camp for grieving children and teens! This new one-day camp will be open to kids grieving the death of a close family member. The Garden: A Center for Grieving Children and Teens invites families with young children ages 7-17 to sign up for this one day of summer fun, sharing stories and making new friends. At Camp Wildflower, kids of all ages will spend the day at scenic Norwich Camp generously donated by the Hampshire Regional YMCA. Activities, projects and games have been planned to support a healthy grieving process. Local teacher, Jerry Costello; and school psychologist, Carlos Turriago is joining with director, Shelly Bathe Lenn of The Garden: A Center for Grieving Children and Teens to open this unique camp for kids who have experienced the death of a close family member. Click here for Camp Wildflower registration and/or Volunteer Application packets! Or join us at one of the information sessions scheduled for May 8 or 22nd at 6:30 p.m. to be held at the Y. Call to confirm attendance. The Garden — A Center for Grieving Children and Teens is a non-profit agency providing support to young people and their families, a place to talk about loss and help parents and guardians learn how to help their children through their grief.

	Children respond differently to death than adults, but they grieve as much as any grown up and benefit from a caring, knowledgeable environment. At The Garden, our focus is the child - and our programs and discussion groups are geared toward helping young people identify and share their feelings and begin the healing process. Yet the program is for the whole family: while groups of children get together to share stories, feelings, and memories with each other, parents and guardians meet separately for a chance to discuss their own concerns facing them and their families. Groups are facilitated by carefully selected and trained volunteers who encourage an exchange of feelings, ideas and support through discussions, arts and crafts and recreational activities. One thing we know: children don't grieve in a "gloomy" way - which is sometimes why their grieving process is overlooked in the first place. At The Garden are designed to be fun, while also teaching kids effective and important coping skills.
	How It Works - Families come together twice each month. After a brief welcome and introduction, children divide into age-appropriate groups led by a trained facilitator to read books, play games, draw, paint or perform an exercise designed to stimulate a discussion about their loss. Meanwhile, parents and guardians meet separately to talk about children and bereavement, and the issues that surround a grieving family. At the end of each session, children and adults come together to complete a joint activity designed to facilitate family communication about their feelings. The Garden is not a therapy group - it is a support program for children and their families. However, the staff at The Garden is prepared to discuss and make recommendations for independent grief counseling upon request.

	All programs and services at The Garden are free. However, participating families are encouraged to make a monthly contribution in an amount that is comfortable. We are committed to making our program available to everyone. We rely on the generosity of our volunteers and the community we serve to keep it that way. If you are interested in making a donation to The Garden (financial or in-kind), please call us at 413-584-7086 ext. 124. To sign up for The Garden, please call 413-584-7086 ext. 124 or send us an email; we would be happy to discuss the program with you in more detail, and answer any questions you may have. All families are welcome. The 2005-2006 session will begin October 23, 2005. Contact us for more information.