15th Annual Camp Bridges

By Mike Barnett, Children’s Bereavement Counselor

Our fifteenth annual Camp Bridges bereavement camp for children ages 6-11 was held on May 1 and 2, 2010. Twenty-two campers attended from Lake and Sumter Counties assisted by 19 volunteer staff. Everyone had a great time. On the nature walks we saw a baby alligator, several water snakes, interesting birds including a Great Blue Heron, a hawk catching a squirrel, and a Bald Eagle stealing a fish from an Osprey in mid-air! We went swimming in the pool with two water slides, played games, had a campfire where we learned all kinds of funny songs, heard stories, and watched a movie at night while eating popcorn. Of course, we also talked about our losses, sharing in a group setting and supporting each other through this process. The final activity was our memorial service with a puppet show, music and rituals designed to honor the memories of our lost loved ones; the last activity was our live butterfly release. We are always looking for new staff volunteers, so join us next year. Contact Mike Barnett, Children’s Bereavement Counselor, at 352-742-6808 or 888-728-6234.