UPPER LAKE>> The Hospice Services of Lake County celebrated 25 years of their Wings of Hope Camp, providing a safe and welcoming space for grieving families to begin to heal through reconnection.
Each and every year (this time from June 30 through July 2) the camp hosts several families on a three-day outdoor adventure located at Saratoga Springs Retreat in Upper Lake. This experience is tailored for grieving individuals to process their emotions and trauma while making new memories and building the necessary skills to continue healing after camp.
Camp Director Kathleen Bradley, who regularly works as Hospice’s Patient and Family Services Manager, has volunteered at camp for 19 years. She shared that this year they are hosting five families stating, “The camp runs itself in some ways, we just take care of the details and make sure everyone feels safe.”
Bereavement Counselor Michelle Elola volunteering as the Associate Camp Director stated, “On that first day you see a lot of families come with anticipation and anxiety but then you add horses and a pool, their eyes start to open.” Keeping a full schedule, campers get to enjoy the great outdoors through equine therapy with horses Ace and Brownie from Andrea Molina’s Healing Hearts Ranch in Kelseyville. They also have art therapy projects as well as musical therapy through drumming with percussionist Josh Robinson who travels the country and even other parts of the world helping people “nourish their inner peace by hitting things.” They can also cool off with a swim in the resort pool or spend some time cuddling Indigo, the superhero therapy dog.
Campers also experience a full camp style menu prepared by volunteers Beth Keiffer, her sister Marie Kong, and Catherine Renner who have all volunteered at camp for many years. Keiffer focuses the menu on as much locally sourced produce as possible, aiming to offer comfort food while also exposing guests to dishes they may not eat every day. “We use everything, so uneaten watermelon becomes Agua Fresca, which many here have not had” noted Keiffer, who took over the family catering business as well as camp kitchen duties after her mother, longtime volunteer Madelene Lyon, could no longer do so herself. Bradley shared “We are so grateful she gave years and years to us.” Keeping up family traditions the kitchen staff makes Lyon’s famous peanut butter cookies every year and this year would like to share this with the world;
One cup peanut butter
One cup packaged brown sugar, light or dark
One large egg slightly beaten
One teaspoon baking soda
One cup semi sweet chocolate chips
1.) Heat oven to 350 degrees
2.) Beat together peanut butter, brown sugar, egg and baking soda until smooth. Stir in chips until well blended
3.) Drop the dough by slightly rounded teaspoonfuls onto slightly ungreased baking sheets spacing mounds 2 inches apart.
4.) Bake one sheet at a time at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes until cookies are puffed and golden but soft to the touch. Let them cool on the baking sheet on a wire rack for about 5 minutes and then transfer cookies directly onto wire rack.
This is also the first year they have served a family style meal with a big traditional spaghetti dinner which Bradley mentioned really “brought up conversation.” Renner said, “It’s nice to see they are sitting down, eating a meal together.” Bradley elaborated on how hard it can be to have a good meal together after a loss saying, “We make everything here homey, comfort food. That speaks to bringing families together as it can be hard through grief to eat well or even cook at all.” The kitchen continued their work, this time preparing home made caramel and chocolate syrups for their ice cream sundaes that were to be eaten later that evening after their sacred circle where campers can write letters honoring their loved ones and also a land blessing from Flamen McCloud.
Renner also shared that her group, Lakeport Sorority Delta Toda Tah, acts as a partner every year this year donating the camp shirts worn by everyone. She shared that her group fundraises through See’s Candy sales at Northlake Pharmacy which allows them to provide donations like this one as well as multiple high school scholarships every year.
Volunteer Coordinator Levi Huntley shared that there were a few first time volunteers this year, including himself, Everardo Molina volunteering in the kitchen, and Shay Cowens volunteering as a Junior Counselor. Volunteer Kurt McElvey had returned for his second year after his experience as a camper the year prior. Cowens is also returning after participation as a camper, sharing how much the camp meant to her. She stated “I realized how much the counselors here helped me, and then I wanted to help and sort of start a tradition.” So far Cowens has most enjoyed “Seeing the kids faces light up then they see it’s not sad but fun.” Cowens is a high school student at Kelseyville High School and has a dream of becoming a forensic scientist.
