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Work Projects: Comfort Zone Camp
Who: Seeking 20 MDRT members to volunteer as adult mentors at summer camp
What: "Big buddies" for grieving children age 7 to 12 at Comfort Zone Camp
When: July 20–23, 2006
Where: Camp Hanover–Hanover, Virginia
Why: One of the most difficult parts of grieving as a child is the feeling of loneliness. After spending a weekend at Comfort Zone Camp, campers realize they are not alone — there are many others who will face the same milestones without a parent and who understand the awkward silences of friends. This understanding is tremendously comforting for children. The MDRT Foundation will sponsor this camp session, which, in part, allows all Comfort Zone Camps to operate free to all campers. The campers will spend the weekend under the watchful care and devotion of a trained adult volunteer, who is their personal support system throughout all camp activities. Comfort Zone Camp's program is designed to mirror how children traditionally grieve — with tears, smiles and memories scattered among recreation times and traditional grief therapy “healing circles.”
"The Comfort Zone Camp was one of the most rewarding weekends of my life, and I will be attending as many camps as I can in the future,” said Scott J. Salinas, CFS, a five-year MDRT member from Neptune, New Jersey, who volunteered at Comfort Zone Camp after seeing camp founder Lynne Hughes' Main Platform presentation during the 2005 MDRT Annual Meeting.
How: Comfort Zone Camp relies on volunteer support. A previous loss is not a requirement for a volunteer, only a deep respect for children and a commitment to opening your heart for a weekend. Volunteers are required to participate in a volunteer training class and clear criminal background checks. To attend training, prospective volunteers must complete Comfort Zone Camp’s online volunteer application form to alert Comfort Zone Camp of your participation. To learn more, contact MDRT staff member Lauren Tolan at (847) 993-4947. To apply, complete the online volunteer application form, or call Comfort Zone Camp toll-free at (866) 488-5679.
Volunteers pay their own airfare expenses to the camp in Virginia. On-site logistics and accommodations are arranged by Comfort Zone Camp. All volunteers need to be available from 2:30 p.m. Thursday, July 20, 2006, to 5 p.m. Sunday, July 23, 2006, during the camp weekend. Volunteer big buddies will stay at camp in a rustic cabin along with their “little buddy” and other big and little buddies. Volunteers will be chosen for one-to-one counselor/big buddy assignments, arts and crafts helpers, support personnel, etc. Please be sure to include any areas of special interest, hobbies or any other special talents you feel may contribute to Comfort Zone Camp on the volunteer registration form.
Camp Volunteer Roles
Volunteers are primarily needed as big buddies for a particular child. The camp
features a 1-to-1 ratio of grieving child, or little buddy to big buddy. Big buddies accompany and support their little buddies throughout the weekend activities, which include arts and crafts, recreation activities and healing circle groups. There are also a number of arts and crafts helpers and "floaters" to provide general camp support throughout the weekend. Trained grief counselors and recreation leaders are involved throughout the camp session. About Comfort Zone Camp Comfort Zone Camp is the nation’s largest nonprofit bereavement camp for children. Founded by Lynne Hughes and her husband, Kelly, the camp serves children ages 7 to 17 who have lost a parent, sibling or primary care giver. Since 1998, the camp has helped guide more than 1,800 children through their grief, providing a safe, nurturing environment where kids can have traditional camp fun, while at the same time acquire tools to help them cope with their loss. MDRT Foundation: Building Hope around the World This will be the seventh MDRT member volunteer project funded by the MDRT Foundation. The previous projects include Habitat for Humanity home builds and playground builds with Kids Around the World. To learn more about previous volunteer projects, visit the links below. Habitat for Humanity home build: Tachatchai, Phuket, Thailand Kids Around the World playground build: Hollygrove, New Orleans, Louisiana Kids Around the World playground build: Tianjin, China Kids Around the World playground build: Watts, Los Angeles, California Kids Around the World playground build: Trinidad and Tobago
For more information, contact the program coordinator:
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