Falling behind, but for a great cause!
This weekend I am going to be volunteering at the Caring Hearts Camp at Dallas Valley Ranch put on by the Regina Palliative Care Unit. The camp is for children aged 4-18 who have recently lost a loved one. For one weekend I will be placing my own needs aside and focusing on the children as they move through the very difficult stages of grief.
At some point in my future career as an educator I will need to deal with death in the classroom as it is a part of life. So many children come into our classrooms with losses that deeply affect them in a school environment. Caring Hearts Camp gives kids a chance to just “be kids” for a weekend while talking and sharing with others who are experiences the same confusing emotions. We will be horse back riding, rock climbing, canoeing, singing, and remembering our loved ones. Through these therapeutic activities at camp I hope to gain some experience in this area and listen to the stories that these children have to tell.
Because I was at a meeting preparing for this camp, I was unable to be at class last night and I’m feeling a little overwhelmed with what I’ve missed. I know that I always find the time to finish assignments and projects, but right now I need to simply focus on getting through this weekend!
May 23rd, 2008 at 8:04 am
Sounds like it is for a great cause! I have a feeling that this weekend is going to be pretty emotional. These kids are going to share powerful stories and it should be an experience you will never forget. As teachers we are going to have to deal with questions pertaining to death and must know and understand how to deal when love ones pass away. Let us know how the weekend goes.
May 25th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
I think it is a good idea to have this experience. Death is a part of life and it can be hard to deal with while in school. I hope everything goes okay. This experience will change you forever. It will also give you skills which will help you in the future.