Camp Courage Registration is Now Open
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An Art Camp for Grieving Children
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Calm Waters' third annual Camp Courage, sponsored by Edmond Women’s Club, is a 3-day art camp on July 14, 15 and 16 for children, ages 6 to 18 who have experienced a recent loss through death, divorce, incarceration, deportation, deployment, and foster/adoptive care issues.
Camp Courage provides a safe and healing environment that allows children to express their feelings of loss through art. Camp activities include artist-led drawing, painting, mixed media, dance, yoga, gardening, and much more and the last day of camp will end with a gallery art show for their families and peers.
Registration is $30 for children ages 6 to 14 and scholarships are available. Children, ages 15 to 18 are invited to volunteer as junior counselors and can volunteer for one or both shifts.
Due to COVID-19 precautions, Camp Courage classes will be segmented into morning and afternoon sessions, depending on each camper’s age. Up to 25 campers, ages 6 to 9, will attend camp from 9:00 a.m. to Noon, and up to 25 campers, ages 10 to 14 will attend camp from 1 to 4 p.m.
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This is Jason Woodruff, our founder, holding a precious photo of his father, who died when Jason was only 9 years old. Because this young boy and his family needed support on their grief journey, Calm Waters was created and has since helped
45,000 Oklahomans in grief.
Jason sent us this photo last month, to assist with our summer fundraising campaign, and we now want to invite YOU to support Calm Waters in your own loved one's honor or memory.
Did you know that New Grief naturally causes us to relive Past Grief?
We can't help but wonder what grief you are remembering due to the Pandemic. These feelings have reminded us
how much greater the need for Calm Waters will be
as we continue to navigate our new “normal."
Please consider giving a donation of $100 or more by June 30 in honor of memory of the one you are missing right now. Every gift helps a child grieving someone they are learning to live without.
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Calm Waters FREE Virtual Student Support Groups
Begin Again June 22
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Registration Deadline is June 19
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Last month we announced that thanks to an emergency grant from the United Way of Central Oklahoma, Calm Waters would be offering FREE Virtual Student Support Groups throughout the summer!
We have been thrilled with the first support group's success and the second 6-week online support group series begins June 22. This free resource is for any pre-K – 12 student who has experienced a recent death, divorce, deployment, incarceration, deportation and/or foster care/adoption.
Once registered, each child is assigned to a weekly group based on availability and age. Each group includes up to eight children segmented by developmental age and all sessions are led by a highly trained grief group facilitator.
“The virtual aspect of this support group proved to be more beneficial for my son - he was more open about his feelings because he was talking to a Zoom video call instead of a room full of kids,” said
AnneMarie Shetley, Calm Waters client and mother of two recent Virtual Student Support Group graduates.
At the end of each support group series, families receive activity kits that include supplies to create memory jars, sensory tools and family photo albums.
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A Special Message from
Calm Waters Board Member, Travis Hartfield
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“Calm Waters was created to help people in grief and right now, the Black community is facing so much grief and feeling a tremendous sense of loss. Grief doesn’t discriminate because of race, gender or socioeconomic status, and I’m proud to be associated with Calm Waters, an organization that stands with every grieving child, adult and family who is facing the injustice of racism and racial prejudice.
Collective Grief is the sense of loss felt by a group of people. In addition to the collective grief we are processing during this time of unrest, we are met with extreme stress, anxiety and sadness each time another Black life is lost. Simply put, we grieve.
As a Black father, I face a number of stressors as I parent my children. A common parental stress is when our children earn their driver’s license. My 16-year-old son just became a legal driver on these Oklahoman streets, but before I handed over the keys, he had to pass “Dad’s Test.”
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A few months ago, my son and I were pulled over and the atmosphere was immediately hostile. I knew this was going to be an unfair stop, something I’d experienced before, but would be a first for my son. The first officer began looking through each window of my Jeep, the second officer stating that he had a gun and would use it, given the chance. During this live, high-stress situation, I quietly and calmly talked my son through our actions with the goal of rising above. I told my son to place his hands and feet on the dash, to not move, and listen to my voice. I told him to not respond to any of the aggressive comments from the officers because the intentions behind those words were bad. I quietly told my son that we would accept whatever ticket was given and handle with the citation through the court of law. No matter what, we were to survive the situation and fight it the right way.
Later, I was informed by a police captain that we were truly stopped because I looked like a stereotype, as he bluntly stated, I’d been stopped for driving with Brown skin.
My son’s memory of instructions during the experience was the final answer to the “Dad test.” His recitation of the words, “survive the situation and fight it the right way,” was what I needed to hear to feel comfortable with him on the road.
Situations like this have got to change.
I urge you to be there to listen to the Black people in your life. When anyone gives voice to their emotions, a feeling of connection grows, and don’t we all need a little more connection right now? You don’t have to have answers. Just validate and acknowledge what is happening right now without judgement. Acknowledge the collective grief as we mourn George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Trayvon Martin and so many others. I believe acknowledging grief will be the seed of change.
I thank each of you who read this for giving me the space to share my grief.
I encourage everyone to join the conversation and encourage systemic reform for change, even if it begins with an internal conversation with yourself about why you feel a certain way about specific issues and assumptions. If you are intentional about making this step, change will come to you, and to our future, and heal this collective grief.” - Travis
Travis Hartfield is a proud father of three children and the Chief Executive Officer of the Qadosh Health and Wellness Experience with a Masters Degree in Educational Technology at Oklahoma State University, where he also an adjunct professor.
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Executive Director Erin Engelke Celebrates Calm Waters on the Best Morning Routine, Ever! Podcast
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This 5-star national podcast by Lunide Louis discusses effective morning routine tips by interviewing entrepreneurs and thought leaders on how their healthy morning habits have contributed to their success.
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Calm Waters w/ Erin Engelke
Erin is the Executive Director for Calm Waters, a nonprofit in Oklahoma City that serves children and families who have experienced loss due to death, divorce, or other significant loss, providing free support groups and other services. CONNECT...
Read more
bestmorningroutineever.libs...
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Planning Your Legacy| Calm Waters
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Calm Waters Center for Children and Families | 405-841-4800 | Calmwaters.org
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