Dottie Kissinger Children's Bereavement Camp
Sponsored by Banner Hospice, the Dottie Kissinger Children's Bereavement Camp is a free community service designed to help children cope with the loss of a loved one. Children and parents participate in activities that inform, educate, and provide opportunities to talk about very difficult aspects of loss.
The camp includes art, play, outdoor activities, and support groups.
Many times parents have a difficult time dealing with their own grief and may be unsure of how to help their children grieve. The goal of this camp is to help families heal.
The bereavement camp is named for long-time Mesa philanthropist Dorothy "Dottie" Vale Kissinger. She served 15 years on the Lutheran Healthcare Network's board of directors, was named Mesa Woman of the Year in 1995 and left a legacy of love and service throughout the world.
As president of Soroptomist International, a businesswoman's service organization, Mrs. Kissinger dedicated her life to making a difference in the lives of children and women. She was appointed by President Gerald Ford to the U. S. Commission on International Women's Year (1975), by President Jimmy Carter to the Continuing Committee for Decade for Women (1975-1985), and was awarded a Peace Medal from the United Nations in 1981.
The peaceful surrounding of Mrs. Kissinger's Saguaro Lake Ranch made it the perfect location for the early years of the Children's Bereavement Camp. She was delighted to be honored as its namesake prior to her death on March 20, 1999.
Today, the camp is held at the Merritt Center and Lodge just outside Payson, Arizona. This mountain location, set in the cool pines, is a refreshing retreat for all. The camp is led by Banner Hospice staff and volunteers. It is held once in the spring and again in the fall each year. The program is not limited to those associated with Banner Hospice, but is open to the entire community. Participants are bereaved families who are grieving the loss of a loved one through any type of death.
For more information about the camp, please contact:
Cindy Darby, Banner Hospice Bereavement Coordinator at (480) 503-9676, or by e-mail.
