Camp Lighthouse, A Beacon of Hope for Grieving Families

The Annual Camp Lighthouse returns to the Hampton Roads – Peninsula area on Saturday and Sunday, March 4 - 5 at the Jamestown 4-H Educational Center,3751 4-H Club Road, Williamsburg, VA 23185 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. each day. Camp Lighthouse is the only two-day camp of its kind in Virginia.

When it comes to coping with the loss of a loved one, children and teens may grieve differently than adults, often dealing with feelings of isolation and confusion. Camp Lighthouse, hosted by Sentara Hospice Services since 2006 in the Hampton Roads area, is a safe place where children can express their grief without worrying about the reactions of others.

Trained professionals and volunteers help children and their families explore issues related to grief so they can begin to heal.

This camp is a place where children and teens can open up, where they can see they’re not alone, and where they don’t have to feel different. Campers are divided into age-appropriate groups for a fun-packed weekend of team-building games, crafts, archery, low rope climbing, picnics, campfires, a parade, and other fun activities. Campers are encouraged to discuss their grief in small group sessions. The camp’s activities conclude with a special memorial service. Children and adults leave with new tools to help them cope.

Camp Lighthouse helps children and their families from the community and not necessarily those of Sentara Hospice. Anyone who has lost a family member or friend within the last two years is welcome. Community involvement, from volunteering to donating resources to referring a friend, by both individuals and businesses has made this a true community event.

This is a two-day camp for families who have lost a loved one. Children ages K-12 are divided into age-appropriate groups. Parents, grandparents, and guardians attend a separate group. Adults will participate in their own activities and learn to cope with their loss while learning to help their children. The only cost for camp is a $20 registration fee, which will be waived if there is a financial need.

To register for Camp Lighthouse, volunteer for camp, or make a donation to provide a scholarship for a child, please email camplighthouse@sentara.com, click here, or call 757-736-0709