Camp Kangaroo: Supporting Kids Through Grief and Loss in Tampa

Camp Kangaroo: A Safe Space for Grieving Children

• 🏕️ Camp Kangaroo is a free, two-day bereavement camp organized by Accent Care Hospice and the Seasons Hospice Foundation, offering support to children and teens who have experienced the death of a loved one.
• 🎯 The primary goals of the camp are to help young people understand their grief, learn coping mechanisms for difficult emotions, and realize they are not alone in their loss.

Facilitating Grief Education and Emotional Processing

• 🤝 Campers are divided into age-specific small groups, from kindergarten to high school, led by volunteer counselors, including licensed clinical social workers.
• 🧠 Counselors focus on meeting campers where they are, acknowledging potential anxieties and hard feelings associated with exploring grief in a new environment.
• 💬 A significant outcome is the instant sense of camaraderie as campers recognize shared experiences of loss, allowing them to open up and "blossom."

Balancing Grief with Joy and Play

• ❤️ For campers like 11-year-old Samz, who returned for a second year, Camp Kangaroo provides a safe space to talk about his mom and openly express how much he misses her.
• 🎉 The camp intentionally balances heavy grief sessions with fun activities and play, ensuring children can also experience joy and laughter during their time there.
• 📍 Camp Kangaroo continues to offer support through future sessions, with applications available via Axent Care Hospice in Tampa.