A no-cost bereavement camp for ages 6 (completed first grade) -12 years old
Monday, June 20th to Friday, June 24th,
9:00 am to 2:00 pm daily
Mon- Thurs: Located at College Settlement Campus, 600 Witmer Rd, Horsham PA
Friday: Located at AJH Schilling Campus, 2500 Maryland Rd, Willow Grove PA
*** Campers Must Register by May 7th ***
Nothing in these kids’ lives will be the same again. With the help of new friends and teen
support, each child can use music, art, dance and more to explore feelings of grief, say good
bye, share memories and gain inner strength. The afternoons are filled with fun activities to
help the kids bond with one another and know it is ok to have fun again! Camp is held in a
beautiful nature location next to streams and trees with hidden obstacle courses, a playground and plenty of fun field challenges. We can’t wait to see all the young shy and
apprehensive faces arrive under Camp Charlie’s tent on that first morning. We know that they
will leave camp with friends, confidence and great new memories.
Contact: safeharbor@amh.org , 215-481-5983
Registration forms are available on our Safe Harbor web page. Search:
“Abington-Jefferson Health, Safe Harbor” for our landing page where you will find our link to Camp Charlie
Fun
Who is “Charlie”?
Some of the fun we’ve had over the years:
“Charlie” is Charles Niles, a dear friend to Safe Harbor
since its inception in January of 2001. Charlie was a
steadfast and generous supporter of ours since the day
our doors opened. He continued that support right up
until his death in December 2006.
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Rock climbing wall
Photo booth
Scientist’s demonstration
Carnival day
Balloon artist
Ice cream truck
Phillie Phanatic
Amazing Race
At that time Charlie’s daughter, Karen Parker Niles, and
her husband, Briton L. Parker, continued the generosity of
Charlie Niles by making a donation in memory of her father.
C A M P
Safe Harbor was then awarded an Abington Health
Innovator’s Circle Grant.With those two funding sources,
the dream of a week-long bereavement day camp for
children was brought to fruition as Camp Charlie.
C H A R L I E
On June 25, 2007, Camp Charlie officially opened to 25
campers and nine buddies, and has grown every year
since.
It is with enormous respect and thanks that we remember
Charlie Niles and his family each time we perform the
camp cheer:
C-A-M-P C-H-A-R-L-I-E—spells healing, spells fun,
spells friends together in the sun…CAMP CHARLIE!
2500 Maryland Road
Willow Grove, PA 19090
215-481-5983
An annual one-week bereavement day camp run by
Safe Harbor,Abington Memorial Hospital’s program
for grieving children, teens, and their families.
Each year Camp Charlie is held during the last week
of June. It takes place Monday to Friday from 9 AM to
2 PM each day. It is available, free of charge, to children
ages 6 to 12 who have experienced the death of a
parent, sibling, or primary caregiver.
Camp Charlie was created to provide children with
a safe place in which to address the tasks of grieving.
They are aided by staff, volunteers and buddies in
acknowledging the death, saying goodbye, reliving
memories, and memorializing their loved ones.
Camp Charlie also recognizes the necessity of the
camaraderie formed through both free play and
organized games. Ample time is devoted each day
to campers just having fun.
Music, Art & Drama
Art, music and drama are important aspects of Camp
Charlie every year.They allow alternative means of
expression for those participants who do not wish to
“talk” about their feelings. Each year we have three
dedicated teams of volunteers and a music therapist
who use their many talents to create engaging and
healing activities.
Our drama volunteers encourage campers to act out
their feelings. In past years, campers have used body
language to express emotion; relaxation and visualization
exercises to cope with stress and anxiety; and other
dramatic explorations to learn how they might be
affected by grief.They have also created puppets to
explore their fears.
Our art team designs projects to help campers
memorialize their grief.Those projects have
included the creation of memory boxes,
mandalas, and personalized puzzles which
symbolized each camper’s grief story.
Campers have also written or drawn their
regrets and had an opportunity to burn them.
Music activities allow campers to use various instruments and lyrics to symbolize their feelings. Campers
may use lyrics to convey special messages or to say
goodbye.They also play instruments to express the
changes in their lives and families.This is especially
useful for campers who have difficulty verbalizing
the many emotions they are experiencing. For some
children, music is the key that unlocks that door.
At Camp Charlie we know how important it is to offer as
many activities as possible, so each camper might find
the one that offers them the ability to begin healing.
Buddies
Our Camp Charlie “buddies” are gems that we treasure.
All of our teen buddies, ages 13 and older, have been
through the Safe Harbor program.They are generous
in their willingness to bring their experience and care
to the younger campers.
They bring many gifts to camp with them.They are
always ready to help staff and volunteers with the
many tasks associated with organizing a week-long
day camp.
They help the campers in their grief related activities,
organized games, and free play.
Most importantly, just by being present, they serve as
inspirations to campers of the growth and healing
that they, too, can experience.
Camp Charlie would not be the same without them.
C
A
M
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Closing Ceremony
A most memorable event at Camp Charlie is the
closing ceremony which takes place on the last day.
Each camper is asked to invite their caregivers and
families to our tent for the closing ceremonies.
That day serves as a culmination of all the work that
our campers have done throughout the week.
Artwork from the entire week is on display and
campers present the music and drama activities
they have been practicing.
The most poignant and meaningful ceremony on our
final day is a reading of the names of all those who
died. As each name is read, that camper joins his/her
family in coming forward to ring a Tibetan bowl in
memory of their loved one.
That sacred moment—more than any other—
symbolizes the honor we feel each day watching our
campers move toward healing.
“My children had a wonderful week of soul
searching, remembering, sharing and bonding."
"It was a lot of fun and helped me let things go."
"I had a lot of fun! I met new people and I'm
glad I came. It also helped me with thinking
about my special person."
"My daughter often described herself as
feeling weird. I think it made her feel like she
wasn't weird or different."
"Thank you for helping give my daughter
a reason to "keep going." I will be forever
grateful.”