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Camp Lighthouse FAQ's
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Camp Lighthouse?
Camp Lighthouse is a two-day camp for children dealing with grief.
Where will it be held?
The camp will be held at Triple-R Ranch, 3531 Bunch Walnuts Road, Chesapeake, VA.
What is the age limit for the children?
The camp will be for children ages 5 to 16, with age specific groups planned for children 5 to 12 and teens 13 to 16, who have experienced the death of a close family member or loved one in the past two years.
Who is organizing the camp?
The camp is organized by Sentara Home Care Services' Hospice Program.
How is the camp funded?
Camp Lighthouse is funded by donations from the community and local business.
Where did the idea of a "camp for grieving children" originate?
Similar camps have been held all over the country in an effort to help children dealing with grief and help them understand that they are no different from other children. This is the only two-day camp in the Greater Hampton Roads area.
Why the name "Camp Lighthouse?"
The camp's name comes from a real-life story of a former Hospice patient by the name of Cheryl. For numerous years, she had saved many of her 14-year-old daughter's clothes. It had always been her plan to make a quilt she could give her daughter on her wedding day. Cancer got in the way.
As Cheryl was dying, a Sentara Hospice nurse listened to her talk about her dream and offered to work with volunteers in making the quilt a reality. They immediately said yes and started their work on what would be a special gift. She was able to use the last energy of her life designing the quilt for her beloved daughter. And Cheryl died knowing volunteers would finish the work she had started. The design Cheryl had picked out for her quilt was a huge lighthouse.
As a result of their work with thousands of families, Sentara's hospice staff developed Camp Lighthouse to help children dealing with their grief. Camp Lighthouse, "a beacon of hope for grieving children," is dedicated to people like Cheryl and her daughter.
Who will be leading the camp?
Camp Lighthouse will be facilitated by Certified Volunteer Support Counselors and Social Workers from the Sentara Hospice Program, Sentara Home Care Services, and Sentara Healthcare who will provide a safe environment for the children.
What activities will take place during the two-day camp?
Besides a fun-packed weekend of team-building games, crafts, making of memory boxes, music therapy, horseback riding, archery, and rock climbing, the children will be encouraged to discuss their grief in small counseling sessions led by licensed counselors. They'll see Camp Lighthouse as a place where they can open up, where they can see they're not alone and where they don't have to feel different. The camp's activities will conclude with a special memorial service for the children and their families. The children will leave with new tools to help them cope.
How can I help?
A camp like this requires caring people like you who are willing to provide funding. Your financial support will help with the cost of a camper's stay, including meals, art supplies, and additional training for volunteers. Your help in making this camp a success will sustain the program for years to come.
Where can I send donations?
Please make checks payable to Sentara Health Foundation (write "for Camp Lighthouse" in the memo line), and send them to:
Sentara Health Foundation
6015 Poplar Hall Drive, Suite 308
Norfolk, VA 23502
Visa and MasterCard are also accepted.
Who can I call for more information or to sign up a child?
Please call (757) 549-7755 and ask for a camp intake counselor, or email CampLighthouse@sentara.com. There is a $15.00 registration fee. Scholarships and transportation are available.
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