When there is a loss in the family, children struggle differently than adults do. Camp Bridges is a weekend event to help children and teens in this very situation. The camp will be held at Camp Wannakumbac May 26-28th. 

The camp has been running for more than a decade and it is where children and teens can come together in a safe, supportive and fun environment for a weekend to learn that they are not alone in their grief.

Melissa Peters is the Regional Palliative Care Coordinator for Prairie Mountain Health, and says this is a bi-regional effort with Prairie Mountain Health and the Southern Health-Santé Sud serving all of southern and central Manitoba, to reach out to families struggling with loss.

Peters explains that the camp is for ages 7-17 years of age, but is not for grief counselling. "It’s a bereavement camp to honour memories of people they have lost." She adds, "It doesn’t have to be only people who have lost someone in a palliative situation. It can be loss from any reason like trauma or accident."

This camp is intended to complement existing bereavement services for children and teens by providing a weekend of caring and sharing. The camp is facilitated by dedicated trained volunteers who help the youth with both bereavement and camp activities. It is intended to complement existing bereavement services for children and teens by providing a weekend of caring and sharing.

The camp’s mission statement 'Love builds bridges where there are none', a reminder to camp participants that they are not alone in their grief.

The program accepts a maximum of 50 applicants and applications are available through the Prairie Mountain Health website.

Camp applications are available at both RHA websites. For more information contact:

Melissa Peters, Regional Palliative Care Coordinator for Prairie Mountain Health call 204-578-2340.

Heide Wiebe, Regional Director- Seniors & Palliative Care, Southern Health-Santé Sud call 204-388-2038