Camp Heart Connection
- Category: 2023 Specialty Program
- Submitted by: ContestCreator
- Name of Entry: A Special Remembrance
- Contact Name: Jourdan Reed
- Contact Phone: 515.243.6239
- Entry Background/Description: Camp Heart Connection has been around for 35 years, and in those 35 years we have always held a very private and special remembrance ceremony (Wish Night) at the end of each week to pay tribute to the children who have died in the past year since the last camping session. During the years of 2020, 2021, and 2022 because of our restructured formats, due to COVID-19, there were a number of campers who did not attend camp. Those campers were able to join us again this year of 2023, but sadly not everyone was in attendance. Even through a restructured camp format we continued with our remembrance ceremony (Wish Night) for those in attendance.
- Why You Should Vote for Me: This year we recognized the significance of the mental health crisis on our teen campers as they joined us once again. During Wish Night we only recognized the children who have died in the past year, but having a large number of our campers not attend camp again until 2023 they weren't able to have that much needed closure. On the Tuesday of each camp we held a special Wish Night ceremony for teens to be able to pay tribute to all the children who died in 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023. It was a sad, impactful, and much needed evening. Teens continued through the week with a sense of closure and new supporting friendships.
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