As Baltimore grapples with three years of record violence, 99 children were granted a brief respite where they could partake in outdoor activities and deal with grief and loss at a Northeast, Md. summer camp.
The family grief and loss center Roberta's House hosted Camp Erin Baltimore at the Northbay Adventure Camp, Aug. 10 through Aug. 12. The program is supported by the Moyer Foundation, founded by former Philadelphia Phillies pitcher and analyst Jamie Moyer and his wife Karen.
The 99 attendees is up from 67 who took part in the summer of 2017. The camp combines the fun and adventure of outdoor play with teaching coping skills to inner-city children who have lost "someone special," a statement from Roberta's House said. The children learn they are not alone in their grief. Camp activities allow participants to honor deceased loved ones, express grief, and make new and lasting friendships.
“As a society, we tend to overlook how children are affected by grief," said founder and president Annette March Grier. "There’s a tremendous need out there for the kind of support Camp Erin provides to children dealing with extraordinary loss.”
