Calling All Campers and Volunteers!

2009 Camp Forget-Me-Not/Camp Erin DC

July 31 - August 2, 2009

CAMPER CRITERIA

Must be between 6-16 years old

Must have experienced a death related loss

Must live in the metropolitan Washington, DC area

Must be willing to come in for an interview/assessment

Must be able to attend camp - Friday, July 31-August 2, 2009

ALL CAMPER APPLICATIONS AND REQUIRED PAPERWORK ARE DUE

Friday, June 5, 2009 at 5:00 p.m.

Click here for Welcome Letter

Click here for Camper Applications

Click here for Camp 2009 Flyer

Interested in Volunteering for Camp Forget-Me-Not/Camp Erin DC?

Click here to go to the Volunteer Page

Click here to read a Washington Post article about Camp Forget-Me-Not..

You Matter to Us

Love, laughter, learning and leisure are the needs of all children, especially those who have recently experienced the death of a loved one. The camp is not designed as a replacement for therapy but as an enjoyable opportunity to explore grief where a child’s self expression is heard, valued and honored.

Guiding Principles

Camp Forget-Me-Not/Camp Erin DC is founded on the belief that every person deserves the opportunity to express his or her feelings or grief in a supportive and understanding environment. Based on this belief, the guiding principles of Camp Forget-Me-Not/Camp Erin DC are:

Grief is a normal process in response to the loss of a loved one
Each child has the natural capacity to heal in his or her own timeframe
The duration and intensity of grief is unique to each individual
Caring, listening and acceptance assist in the healing process

The Camp Model

At Camp Forget-Me-Not/Camp Erin DC, each camper is paired with an adult buddy for the weekend. Buddies are specially trained volunteers who serve as role models in the grief process and help provide companionship and support to campers. The individual attention Buddies provide campers is what makes Camp Forget-Me-Not/Camp Erin DC so special. Professional licensed therapists and counselors lead several therapeutic group sessions designed to address the age-specific needs of the grieving camper.

Fun Activities

Campers enjoy a weekend of traditional camp activities such as swimming, canoing, arts and crafts, games and sports. Our camp offers specialty activities which include seining, playback theatre, drumming and music, journaling and meditation, therapeutic art, drama, and the initiative and confidence course. Campers and Buddies sleep in air-conditioned cabins and eat together community style. All the activities are specially designed to help campers express themselves and develop bonds with others.

Camp Forget-Me-Not/Camp Erin DC is provided free of charge, except for a $5 non-refundable camper application fee.
All prospective campers are interviewed and assessed for readiness and appropriateness prior to acceptance.

For any questions concerning volunteering at the Wendt Center or for Camp Forget-Me-Not/Camp Erin DC

call Sarah Berry at 202-204-5009 or email sberry@wendtcenter.org.

Interested in Volunteering for Camp Forget-Me-Not/Camp Erin DC?

Click here to go to the Volunteer Page

For more information, call (202) 624-0010.