Chapters Health System — the largest, not-for-profit, advanced illness and hospice care organization in the nation — today announced plans to host the 20^th annual Camp Brave Heart on the weekend of April 5-7, 2024, at the Circle F Dude Ranch Camp in Lake Wales, Florida.

The weekend camp, provided by Good Shepherd Hospice, a Chapters Health affiliate, is for children ages five through high school. It is free of charge and typically open to all children in Polk, Highlands and Hardee Counties who have recently experienced the loss of a loved one. For the first time this year, the camp also accepts children from Martin, Okeechobee and St. Lucie Counties.

“This camp is a supportive and validating experience for the kids,” said Suzy Soliday, bereavement supervisor, Good Shepherd Hospice. “Their loss does not have to be associated with hospice care and their loved ones don’t even need to be a patient with Good Shepherd Hospice. We welcome any child who is experiencing the complex feelings associated with grief. The point of this camp is helping them navigate those complex feelings in a welcoming environment that allows them to express themselves and have fun.”

In 2023, Camp Brave Heart welcomed 65 children. The camp is capable of supporting 120 children.

The comprehensively trained camp staff, includes a full-time registered nurse, bereavement specialists, counselors and volunteers. The camp environment combines outdoors activities such as swimming, canoeing and horseback riding with opportunities for brief group discussions led by trained cabin leaders. The camp also includes a memorial service designed to provide campers an opportunity for closure and healing.

“I’m always pleased to hear from campers and families about the extraordinary experience they get from Camp Brave Heart,” said Reginald Riley, Ph.D, vice president of support services and patient experience, Chapters Health System. “I know I can speak for every member of our staff at Good Shepherd Hospice, when I say it’s a privilege to invest in the lives of these kids and watch how they grow from this experience.”

Registration is required for attendance. Registration includes participating in an interview with a Good Shepherd Hospice counselor, at which time an application and all necessary releases will be completed. Children are accepted to participate in camp based on appropriateness and space availability. You can find the Children’s Grief Camp 2024 Application HERE.

For more information and/or an application, please call Good Shepherd Hospice team at 1.800.753.1880 or email [email protected].

For more information on no-cost bereavement services through Good Shepherd Hospice, please call 863.968.1707

About Chapters Health System

As a progressive leader and premier healthcare organization, Chapters Health System is dedicated to delivering innovative care throughout chronic illness progression and beyond. Since 1983 as a community-based, not-for-profit organization, Chapters Health has provided choices, education and guidance through its managed affiliates. All offerings are provided to improve the patient/family experience well in advance of end-of-life needs. In 2023, Chapters Health was named a Top Workplaces USA award-winner; in 2022, earned certified status for information security from HITRUST and for the sixth consecutive year was recognized as a great workplace in the Aging Services category by the independent analysts at the Great Place to Work^® Institute. To learn more, visit www.chaptershealth.org, like us on Facebook or follow us on X and LinkedIn.

About Good Shepherd Hospice

Good Shepherd Hospice, an affiliate of Chapters Health System, is a community-based, not-for-profit organization that supports more than 4,200 patients each year in Polk, Highlands and Hardee counties as they face the challenges of advancing age and illness.

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To view this release in a PDF, click here.

Contact:

Austin Mudd

Media Relations Specialist

Chapters Health System

[email protected]

C: 813-310-4690