"Imagine the sound of this gong islike a rocket ship that can send messages up to your loved one," said drummer Josh Robinson, "take 10 seconds to think of your message,and when I ring the gong, it'll reach your loved one."
This therapeutic music class was one of the many moments held throughout last weekend's Camp Erin. Theannual bereavement camp, led by experts from Penn Wissahickon Hospice's David BradleyChildren's Bereavement Program, brings children and teens together fromthroughout the Philadelphia area who have experienced the death of a relativeor close friend.
Depending on the moment, the nearly 100children were busy among the ropes course and volleyball courts, or engaged inart and music classes. The kids had opportunities to beat on ‘the angry drum,’play ‘GaGa ball,’ craft tributes to their loved one(s), and reflect on the"Peaceful Porch" throughout the weekend.
“Campers tell us that attending CampErin-Philadelphia hasallowed them to cry for the first time since their loss, or to laugh and be akid again," said Camp Erin – Philadelphia Director Jennifer Singer,LCSW, who coordinates the David Bradley Children’s Bereavement Programthroughout the year. "When campers see so many children who, just like them, arecoping with unthinkable losses, they profoundly know and trust that they arenot alone.”
Camp Erin is held in partnership with TheMoyer Foundation, a nonprofit organization founded in 2000 by World Serieschampion and former Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Jamie Moyer and his wife,Karen. This weekend program teaches children healthy ways to cope with grief,and provides resources for them to utilize during and after camp. The camp isfree to all children and teens grieving the death of someone close to them.Since Penn Wissahickon teamed up with the Moyer Foundation in 2007, CampErin-Philadelphia has served 587 campers and involved 475 volunteers, many from within the University of Pennsylvania Health System.
For the first time since Penn WissahickonHospice started hosting Camp Erin here in Philadelphia in 2007, Jamie Moyer wasable to attend camp and spent a great deal of time with the campers. Hisarrival brightened the spirits of many campers and volunteers, and quicklysparked an impromptu football game among the older boys. Moyer, who played 25years in Major League Baseball, stayed throughout the day Saturday and into theevening's emotional Luminary ceremony, reminding the campers that there are alot of people who support them and will help them through their grief.
*Photographs by Peggy Peterson Photography for Penn Medicine.