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Camp STARS Returns to In-Person Camp This November

Hospice Atlanta’s Free Family Bereavement Camp on November 5-7 Returns to In-Person Camp

Atlanta, September 15, 2021 – Visiting Nurse Health System| Hospice Atlanta announced this year’s November Camp STARS family bereavement camp will return to an in-person camp, held at Camp Twin Lakes the weekend of November 5-7, 2021. In light of the COVID pandemic, there is an enormous level of preparation and attention to detail regarding infection control and prevention for a safe camp experience for families.

Camp STARS: Sharing Together As Real Support was established in 1994, as the first camp of its kind in Georgia.  It is designed to help anyone who has lost a loved one better understand that their feelings of loss are natural, and that they are not alone. Camp STARS is open to all families who have experienced a loss, whether or not their loved one was ever in the care of Hospice Atlanta. This camp serves as a nurturing, safe environment created for camp participants, to meet others in similar situations, to share and grieve in supported, emotionally healthy ways. The camp is staffed by counselors, social workers, chaplains and community volunteers who have experience working with the bereaved.

This camp weekend is carefully designed to include a variety of therapeutic activities, a time for reflection and specific groups for adults and children.  Participants will have an opportunity to connect, share, reflect, heal and bond.

At Visiting Nurse Health System | Hospice Atlanta, we understand, and assist others to understand, that death is an integral part of life. When someone dies, people grieve and may struggle to cope with life without their loved one. The Camp STARS bereavement camp is designed to help people come together, and experience a deeper understanding that they are not alone, and that their feelings of loss are quite normal. We provide a safe environment for children and adults to share their feelings, meet others in similar situations, and have fun while learning how to grieve in an emotionally healthy way.

Camp STARS is offered every spring and fall for mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, siblings, grandparents—whoever means “family” to you. This interactive and supportive three-day camp offers activities such as music and singing, games, arts and crafts, family entertainment, fishing, boating, group sharing and opportunities for families to simply spend time together. A special service of remembrance gives each family a chance to honor their loved one.

Camp Twin Lakes in Rutledge, Georgia, is the location for Camp STARS. Camp Twin Lakes occupies 300 beautiful acres 50 miles east of Atlanta and its unique facilities provide a great camping experience in a nurturing, fully-accessible environment. Camp STARS is part of Visiting Nurse | Hospice Atlanta’s community outreach and is offered free of charge except for a small administrative fee.

Camp STARS is funded by the generosity of community donations, especially the on-going care and support of The Junior League of Atlanta.  Because of our generous supporters, there is a minimum administrative fee for November’s camp, and it’s possible for all individuals or families, impacted by loss, to attend Camp STARS, regardless of their financial resources.

To register online go to https://vnhs.org/hospice-atlanta/camp-stars/camp-stars-application-form/.

For more information about November’s camp, contact Chandelle Carter at  404-869-3052.

 

About Visiting Nurse Health System | Hospice Atlanta

Founded in 1948, Visiting Nurse Health System is Georgia’s largest nonprofit provider of home healthcare, long-term care at home, and hospice services. The mission is to improve the lives of the more than 15,000 patients and their families served each year throughout metro Atlanta’s 31 counties in their homes. Thanks to the support of generous individuals, foundations and corporations, Visiting Nurse is able to provide compassionate, quality care to all of its patients regardless of their financial circumstances.

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