ATSSA Signal March/April 2019

American Traffic Safety Services Association 28 The Foundation The Foundation helps children cope with loss through Experience Camps Nonprofits pair up to offer resources to campers and families For the past several years, The Foun- dation has worked with the nonprofit Ex- perience Camps, which helps children of varying ages cope with grief caused by the loss of a parent, sibling, or caregiver in a roadway work zone and builds a sup- port group of young individuals who are undergoing similar challenges. By joining with Experience Camps, The Foundation is working to make summer camp possible by covering round-trip travel expenses for eligible children. According to Foundation President Dave Krahulec, The Foundation is currently accepting applications for children until July 1, 2019. “These camps provide wonderful expe- riences and healing for children who have lost a loved one. Important con- nections are made and skills to cope with loss are learned at these camps that are used by both campers and their families even after the camp ends,” said Krahulec. Experience Camps Chief Program Offi- cer Sam Green said the nonprofit has continued to grow and staff members focus on providing continual resources for campers and their families. “This program is more than an opportu- nity for kids to go to camp. The big take- aways are the confidence builders and the ability for kids to come out of that week understanding more about the grief process,” Green said. Experience Camps Executive Director Sara Deren said that over the past 10 years, Experience Camps has expanded from one camp site in Maine with 27 campers, to five camps across the Unit- ed States that have 700 campers and 300 volunteers. “We are so grateful for our partnership with The Foundation and for the sup- port of children enduring the unimag- inable loss of a parent in the roadway safety industry,” said Deren. “We run free summer camps across the coun- try for children grieving the death of a parent or sibling. Kids partake in all the typical fun camp activities—and, guid- ed by clinicians, remembering the loved one who died while developing the tools they need to work through their grief. Every Foundation family is a wel- come part of our community sending grieving children an important mes- sage: they are not alone—we are all in this together.“ Contact Lori Diaz for more information about the 2019 program and application (available at Foundation .atssa.com ). The application deadline is July 1. Campers pose for a group shot at the Manitou Camp in Oakland, Maine. This year, two Maine-based camps will host boys (entering grades 4–12 in the 2019–2020 school year) and girls (entering grades 4–8 in the 2019–2020 school year) from Aug.19–24.