Hospice & Palliative Care of Martha’s Vineyard will host Camp by the Sea this month, a one-day grief camp to give children a space to process loss.

The camp takes place Saturday, Oct. 19 at Slough Farm in Edgartown.

According to grief camp counselors Jill Demeny and Amanda Zoref, Hospice & Palliative Care of Martha’s Vineyard ran a grief group last year at the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School last year. This year, the organization has reached out to schools across the Island in preparation for its first grief camp.

Throughout the day, there will be moments for children to talk about the people close to them who have died, offset by activities that include arts and crafts and the chance to visit with farm animals.

“It will give the children and the teens an opportunity to discuss whatever they want about it, and share their memories and feel safe,” said Ms. Demeny. “The big thing is to be connected and to be safe.”

To prepare for the camp, Ms. Demeny and Ms. Zoref have worked with the National Alliance for Childhood Grief, and consulted with existing grief camps off-Island.

Field day activities like kickball will also be offered as a way to help the kids release their emotions.

“The goal is to encourage the idea that grief and joy can exist at the same time,” said Ms. Zoref. “It’s probably quite comforting for a parent to see their child happy while they are grieving a big loss.”

Adult family members are also able to participate but will take part in different activities than the children, such as sound baths and yoga. Adults will have the opportunity to talk with therapists about how to support a family navigating grief.

“Grief is one of those stigmas, people don’t like to talk about death,” said Ms. Demeny. “In the past, it was considered better to shield the children....often not given the opportunity to attend a funeral or see the person who died, and that has spillover into adult life.”

For more information or to sign up, call Hospice & Palliative Care of Martha’s Vineyard at 508-693-0189, or email campbythesea@hospiceofmv.org.