Grief is a powerful emotional and physical reaction to the loss of someone or something. It can be a complex emotion to process and for children and teens, it is no different. During the pandemic there has been more loss than ever for children across the area; loss of loved ones, loss of friendships, relationships, and connections, loss of routine and school, etc. 

Roslyn Chelliah, a music therapist, and Bruce Leisy, a bereavement cooridnator, with Saint Luke's Home Care & Hospice, talk with The Kansas City Star about Express Yourself Camp, an annual camp to help children ages 5-14 deal with unique feelings following a loss or life change. A former camper, now camp counselor, also shares his experience and how the camp helped him and helps other kids coping with loss. 

“We’re death averse. We don’t like endings, we don’t like goodbyes," said Bruce. "We’ll do anything to avoid grief. But if we as adults don’t do grief very well, we can’t expect our kids to do that well with it.”

Saint Luke's Home Care & Hospice, in collaboration with the Girl Scouts of NE Kansas and NW Missouri, is hosting its annual grief camp for children and teens called Express Yourself Camp. Families can register until May, 29th at 5 pm.

Read the full story by the Kansas City Star: Kansas City Children Mourning a Loss Find an Outdoor Outlet at Summer Grief Camp