From the RGJ
The first weekend in September marked the second gathering of Camp Solace, a grief camp for children and teens dealing with a lost family member or loved one.
The camp, on the shores of east Lake Tahoe, provided campers a chance to meet and share with children who have gone through similar tragedies.
The Solace Tree, a Reno-based grief-sharing facility, hosted the camp with the help of adult camp counselors.
Solace Tree founder Emilio Parga noted that although many grief camps exist throughout the country, Camp Solace was the first such camp in the Reno-Tahoe region.
The camp featured activities aimed at building trust and teamwork. Campers spent much of their time just being children, swimming, kayaking, playing volleyball, making crafts and participating in team skits.
In addition to typical camping activities, Camp Solace attendees spent time writing in journals and remembering those loved ones who they’d lost. The campers crafted flags from fabric to symbolize a memory of their lost loved one.
During these times, the children had the opportunity to share something about their loved one such as a poem or memory.
Robert Woods is a volunteer for the Solace Tree.