Cheryl Varian, camp facilitator with Universal Home Health & Hospice Care has announced that Caring Hearts of Ohio has begun accepting applications for Camp Braveheart, an annual day camp for children ages 5-13 who have lost someone close to them to death during the past year.

Children who are grieving the loss of a loved one often feel alone. Often, they try to hide their grief, they may feel adults don’t understand, or they might be afraid to talk to an adult about their feelings. Camp Braveheart allows them to be with other children who have lost loved ones. They are surrounded by caring adults, trained counselors and hospice professionals. Camp Braveheart is designed to the specific needs children have when they grieve and offers them a wonderful opportunity to laugh, play, and create, as well as remember.

Besides horseback riding, archery, boating, fishing, crafts and rock climbing, children participate in small groups facilitated by trained counselors and hospice professionals to help them learn about the grieving process and to learn their feelings of grief are normal and shared by other children.

This year’s camp takes place 9:00 am to 3:15 pm daily Wednesday, June 5 through Friday, June 7 at Marmon Valley Farm in Zanesfield and is free to campers.

Guidance counselors at area schools have Camp Braveheart information and applications available. An information brochure can also be picked up at Universal Home Health & Hospice Care location at 701 S. Main Street in Bellefontaine or call 937.593.1605.

Camp Braveheart is made possible through contributions from local community businesses, Caring Hearts of Ohio, and Universal Home Health & Hospice Care, Inc.