Of all the things 10-year-old Dylan Vance was most proud of from his time at Camp Braveheart this week, catching the biggest fish in the pond at Marmon Valley Farm was tops.
Fishing was a skill taught to him by his father Christopher Vance, who died in a car crash three years ago, and an activity he still holds close to his heart.
“When we went fishing, I caught the two biggest fish — the biggest bass and the biggest bluegill,” the Bellefontaine boy said. “My dad taught me to fish when I was a boy.”
|
ABOVE: A tree sloth hangs out on a branch as Calvin McCammon of the Columbus Zoo tells children with the Camp Braveheart program about the habits and habitats of the slow-moving mammal on Thursday at Marmon Valley Farm. HOME PAGE SLIDESHOW PHOTO: Dylan Vance, 10, of Bellefontaine, and Jayda Sibala, 10, of Marysville, discuss what they will put on the pillowcases they can use to shout or cry into when they feel angry or upset at the losses they are dealing with. (EXAMINER PHOTO | REUBEN MEES) |
The three-day annual camp hosted by Universal Home Health and Hospice is designed to help youths like Dylan learn healthy ways to cope with the loss of a loved one.
“It helps me with my feelings to know that other people are going through the same thing as me and I can talk to them about it,” Dylan said as he decorated a pillowcase that he can shout or cry into if his feelings become overwhelming.
Dylan is one of 33 youths to participate in the camp this year, each with his/her own story of loss.
Lakeview brothers Caiden, 11, and Xavier Schwer, 9, spent the camp reflecting on their younger sister Ryleigh, who died three years ago of cerebral palsy at age 4.
“This helps us deal with our emotions,” Caiden said. “I still miss her a lot.”
“We learned other people have lost other people, too, and share the same feelings,” Xavier said, holding up a mirror and asking what superhero is inside. He said it is one with superpowers of “courage, memory, empathy, confidence, faith and determination.”
“We had to guess who the superhero was and it was us,” Xavier said.
Read complete story and more photos in Friday’s Examiner.
CLICK HERE to subscribe today!
WEB EDITION STARTING AT $9.50 FOR 5 WEEKS!