Registration Is Now Open for Ohio’s Hospice of Central Ohio’s Grief Camp for Children

Registration is now open for Ohio’s Hospice of Central Ohio’s Camp HOCO, a three-day camp for children, ages 6-12, who have experienced the loss of a loved one. The 25th annual kids’ grief camp will be held June 28-30, 2022, at Denison University Campus (100 W. College St., Granville, Ohio 43023). The camp meets daily from 8:30 am to 3 pm.

Camp activities include arts and crafts, hiking and music. In addition to traditional camp activities, the Ohio’s Hospice of Central Ohio Pathways of Hope^SM bereavement counseling staff provide grief support activities so children can learn how to manage their grief.

“Camp HOCO provides children with the opportunity to see that they are not alone,” said Maria Johnson, manager of Patient and Family Support Services at Ohio’s Hospice of Central Ohio. “At Camp HOCO, grieving children learn how to express their emotions, recognize grief, and ask for help.”

The camp is open to the community and is available to campers at no cost thanks to generous support from the community. During the COVID-19 pandemic, a $15,000 donation from an anonymous donor made it possible for Ohio’s Hospice of Central Ohio to offer Camp HOCO at home.

“We’re grateful for this donor’s generous gift, which enabled us to provide grief support to children who had lost a loved one,” said Stacy Geller, vice president of Philanthropic Development at Ohio’s Hospice of Central Ohio. “Because of the community’s support of our mission, we are able to offer grief support to all members of the community, regardless of whether a loved one has received services from Ohio’s Hospice of Central Ohio. During our 40th year of providing superior care superior services to patients and families, we are honored and privileged to offer the 25th annual Camp HOCO to grieving children.”

For more information or to request a registration packet for Camp HOCO, please contact Maria Johnson at MJohnson@HospiceofCentralOhio.org or 740.788.1474. Registration is required by June 17, 2022.

To learn more about how you can help support Camp HOCO, please contact Stacy Geller at Stacy@HospiceofCentralOhio.org or 740.788.1488.

Ohio’s Hospice of Central Ohio, an affiliate of Ohio’s Hospice, has provided a holistic, community-based approach to hospice care since 1982. With locations in Newark, Columbus, Lancaster and Zanesville, the not-for-profit organization serves nine counties in central Ohio and is dedicated to supporting the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of patients and families facing life-limiting illnesses. In addition, two inpatient care centers at Licking Memorial Hospital and The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center are available for symptom management.