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CAMP DRAGONFLY Children’s Grief Camp at Camp All Saints on Lake Texoma

BJ Kirkpatrick Lake Texoma news, News 02/19/201807/23/2025 0 Comment

Lake Texoma | February 18, 2018

Registration for Camp Dragonfly is now open. Camp Dragonfly is a weekend retreat, led by professional clinicians and trained staff, for children ages 8-12 who have suffered the loss of a loved one. All activities at Camp Dragonfly are designed to help children heal and live successfully after loss. During the weekend, campers have the opportunity to participate in art activities, games, nature hikes, discussions, and a campfire with s’mores. Campers learn ways to process feelings and treasure memories. Camp is not about forgetting, it is about healing. We use exercises to help the children learn to process grief and then fun activities to practice the coping skills they are learning,” said Nancy Jackson, Community Development Director and Camp Director. “Children grieve differently than adults. Some children have behavioral problems, some struggle with schoolwork, some become argumentative or fearful, some hesitate to be away from a parent, and many don’t like to be alone.”

Children dealing with grief often feel isolated and feel that no one understands. One of the goals of Camp Dragonfly is to give the campers a chance to be with others who can relate to their feelings of grief and sadness to help them realize that they are not alone. “My child very much enjoyed camp, she has always felt different from other children and camp seemed to make her feel like she belonged,” said a parent whose daughter attended a previous session. “The grief counselor I talked to was awesome! She was very honest and straightforward with me. She even asked how I was handling everything.”

Parents will receive a debriefing after the weekend from the clinical staff designed to not only provide them with resources, but insight as to how children grieve. The goal is to help the parents understand that a child experiences grief differently and help parents recognize and help them to cope with those behaviors.

The spring session of Camp Dragonfly is scheduled for March 23rd -25th at All Saints Camp on Lake Texoma, 418 Stanton Way, in Pottsboro, Texas. If you know a child who would benefit from participating, contact Nancy Jackson at (903) 868-9315 or nancy.jackson@homehospice.org.
Home Hospice of Grayson, Cooke and Fannin Counties is a 501(c)(3) local community-based organization founded in 1982. Our mission is to provide compassionate care, emotional support and education to our patients, their caregivers and the community to enhance their Quality of Life. For more
information visit our website at www.homehospice.org.

Austin College ’Roo Bound Program for Children Is Saturday

BJ Kirkpatrick Austin College, News 02/16/201807/23/2025 0 Comment

SHERMAN, TEXAS—February 16, 2018

Austin College’s free ’Roo Bound program for area children in kindergarten through 5^th grade continues for the spring term this Saturday, February 17, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. This month’s session is “All’s Fair in Love and War,” and students involved in Austin College’s Improv Troupe and Delta Omicron international music society will provide programming for the session that invites children to spend fun, learning time on campus. Participants will have free lunch in the Austin College dining hall in Wright Campus Center, courtesy of the Service Station and Aramark Food Service.

The day of the program, parents should drop students off between 10:45 and 11 a.m.at Wright Campus Center’s main entrance off Brockett Street.

Advance registration is requested so that sufficient volunteers and materials will be available. Only 50 slots are available but openings still remain. To register or for more information, contact the Austin College Service Station at 903.813.2333 between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. weekdays or email servicestation@austincollege.edu. To register by email, include the child’s name and grade level, along with the parents’ phone number.

In addition to the special learning opportunity for children, ’Roo Bound, coordinated by the Austin College Service Station but involving many students across campus, is designed to expose children to the idea of college in a safe, fun environment. The organizers hope that the program makes college attendance seem accessible to children, particularly those who might be the first in their families to consider college. Other spring events are scheduled for March 17 and April 21.

The Austin College Service Station is a student-run organization that connects Austin College students available for service with local agencies and groups needing volunteers. Many students do individual service projects in the community; campus organizations often do group projects; others take part in projects such as ’Roo Bound or the College’s annual Great Day of Service, when several hundred students volunteer at more than 40 agencies in the north Texas region.

Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, international study, pre-professional foundations, leadership development, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 40 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives, Austin College boasts a welcoming community that embraces diversity and individuality, with more than 36 percent of students representing ethnic minorities. A residential student body of 1,250 students and a faculty of more than 100 allow a 12:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. The College is related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA) and cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. Founded in 1849, the College is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter.

Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, international study, pre-professional foundations, leadership development, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 40 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives, Austin College boasts a welcoming community that embraces diversity and individuality, with more than 40 percent of students representing ethnic minorities. A residential student body of approximately 1,275 students and a faculty of more than 100 allow a 13:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. The College is related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA) and cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. Founded in 1849, the College is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter.

Austin College Hosts Campus and Public Star Party

BJ Kirkpatrick Austin College, News 02/03/201807/23/2025 0 Comment

February 3, 2018 | Austin College

Austin College Adams Observatory opens its doors to the community for a Star Party on February 22, 2018 where visitors can explore the universe through the largest research grade telescope in North Texas. The come-and-go, free event begins at 8:15 p.m. and runs until 9:45 p.m. Advance registration is requested. Should weather conditions require a cancellation, the announcement will be posted on the Austin College website, and registrants will be notified by email on the day of the event.

Dr. David Whelan, assistant professor of physics says, “At the Star Party, we get to share our enthusiasm, and our telescopes, with the community. Come join us to experience the vastness of space. There is no better way to appreciate our place in the universe than by sharing it with other space enthusiasts.”

With the Adams Observatory telescope, guests will be able to see celestial objects that are normally invisible to the naked eye. The evening will feature the moon and the beautiful Orion Nebula, along with other delights of the sky.

The IDEA Center is located at 1108 E. Richards Street, and parking is available nearby. Visitors meet outside the main entrance of the IDEA Center, and guests will be taken to the Observatory in small groups on a first-come, first-served basis. More telescopes will be available on the roof and lawn, and light refreshments will be available. Students and faculty will be on hand to assist and provide details about the night’s featured objects.

Dr. David Baker, Physics Department chair and director of Adams Observatory, says, “We are fortunate to have one of the top college observatories in the country at Austin College. Our students have conducted exciting research on massive hot stars and searched for planets orbiting other star systems. But for this Star Party, we will replace the scientific camera with an eyepiece so that visitors can explore the universe with their own eyes.”

Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, international study, pre-professional foundations, leadership development, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 40 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives, Austin College boasts a welcoming community that embraces diversity and individuality, with more than 40 percent of students representing ethnic minorities. A residential student body of approximately 1,275 students and a faculty of more than 100 allow a 13:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. The College is related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA) and cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. Founded in 1849, the College is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter.