Can my child who is too young for camp now attend later?
Can my child come to camp if it's been more than a year since the death?
Where is camp held?
Will my children be sleeping in the same room?
Is there a charge?
What should I pack?
What time does camp start and end?
Can my child come back to camp?
How important is it that I attend adult camp, and will I see my child during camp?
What if my child needs to be on medication?
What kinds of activities happen at camp?
Is Camp Amanda the Panda grief counseling?
Is Amanda the Panda a faith-based organization?
How do you screen your camp staff?
What can I expect from my children after camp?
Yes.
Can my child come to camp if it's been more than a year since the death?
Yes. We've had many campers attend near the one-year anniversary and several who attend two, three or five years after; there is no time limit on grief.
Where is camp held?
Camp is held at Wesley Woods Camp and Retreat Center in Indianola, Iowa. This may be found on the Camp page under the Services heading, or downloaded here.
Will my children be sleeping in the same room?
No, children of similar ages and gender sleep in the same room, with counselors close by.
Is there a charge?
All Amanda the Panda programming is offered at no cost to grieving families. We do request a $35.00 refundable deposit per individual or a $100.00 refundable deposit per family to attend our weekend grief camp.
What should I pack?
A list of suggested items to bring to camp may be found on the Camp page under the Services heading, or downloaded here.
What time does camp start and end?
Campers are asked to be to the camp between 9:00 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. on Saturday morning. Family members are asked to return to camp on Sunday morning between 11:30 a.m. and 11:45 a.m. for our closing ceremony followed by lunch. Families are packed and on the road usually by 2:00 p.m. on Sunday.
Can my child come back to camp?
If another death occurs in their lives they are welcome to come back to camp.
How important is it that I attend adult camp, and will I see my child during camp?
The primary advantage of attending adult camp is to gain support from other adults to assist you in your own grief journey. That is why the adult camp is separate from the children's camp. All campers gather together at the end of camp for a meal, talent show and a closing ceremony.
Secondly, for those who are a significant presence in a grieving child's life, camp offers ideas for understanding the unique nature of children's grief and learning ways to support the children. Families that attend camp at the same time have the advantage of a shared experience that tends to open the door for additional sharing and support at home.
What if my child needs to be on medication?
A medically qualified volunteer will be on hand to keep track of all medications.
What kinds of activities happen at camp?
Camp offers a variety of activities designed to offer children the opportunity for indoor and outdoor play, music, art, team-building and brief periods of quiet small group time to share memories and feelings surrounding the death. All activities are tailored to the particular ages of the children and remain flexible and relaxed.
Is Camp Amanda the Panda grief counseling?
No. Camp is designed to offer peer support and fun. No formal counseling will take place.
Is Amanda the Panda a faith-based organization?
Amanda the Panda services are designed to assist all grieving children and adults in our community, so is not limited by any religious affiliation.
We understand that children who are grieving come into our care often times feeling confused and different. Therefore all staff and volunteers will not discuss faith topics such as God, heaven, and prayer as their views may differ from messages the children are hearing at home or in their place of worship, causing further confusion. All staff and volunteers working with grieving adults will also respect that there is great diversity in the religious views of the families we serve, and some individuals are not comfortable with faith-based discussions, especially if they are caught off guard. As staff and volunteers we are responsible for making all our clients feel safe and supported.
If a grieving child or adult expresses their faith during an ATP group event, all staff and volunteers will respond in a supportive and neutral manner to validate that individual’s belief, while redirecting the group discussion back to grief-related topics. All ATP activities, songs, poems, artwork, handouts, etc. must be secular. No ATP sponsored religious services will take place during ATP events.
How do you screen your camp staff?
All camp staff are carefully interviewed and submit to a formal background check. They go through training with the Amanda the Panda staff and serve as an assistant counselor their first camp to gain the needed experience.
What can I expect from my children after camp?
Many children return home excited to share all their camp experiences. It is very normal to see an increase in the expressions of grief–crying, talking and even anger. This is a healthy sign that they have understood that grief is okay to share and they are progressing forward. Some children are, by nature, more quiet and reflective and may need more time to process their camp experience before they are ready to share.
Please contact us if you did not find the answer to your question(s) here.
