After Rebecca Olabisi died in April 2007 after two years of battling liver cancer, her two teenage children were so grief-stricken they could barely speak.

Desiree, 13, and Jake, 15, moved in with Roshonda Reels, who’d been Olabisi’s best friend since kindergarten and who was keeping a promise to take care of her friend’s children. “She was like family,” Reels said, with the children beside her in their Warwick home. “I miss her.”

Reels was looking for ways to help the Olabisi children cope with their mother’s death when the bereavement coordinator for Home & Hospice Care of Rhode Island suggested sending them to the agency’s first day camp for children last summer.

Camp BraveHeart, a free two-day camp held at the YMCA Camp Fuller in Wakefield, had all the outdoors and arts activities typical of any children’s camp. The twist was that it was open only to children who’d lost a loved one –– a relative, a classmate, a friend. Some of the activities included ceremonies and projects meant to honor the memories and help children deal with their grief, by being with others who were dealing with the same emotions. The camp is supported completely by donations from the YMCA Camp Fuller, Valuna Restaurant in Saunderstown and the Maureen Carlson Camp BraveHeart Fund.

After the first day, Desiree was bursting with stories about the camp –– all the friends she made quickly, the kayaking and archery, and games, Reels said. “When you’re able to see how other people are going through it, when other people can do this, I can do this,” Desiree said.

Although Jake had football practice, after hearing about how much fun Desiree was having, he decided to go to the second day of the camp. He loved it, too. “Some families think if you’re having a good time, that you’re not honoring that [deceased] person,” said bereavement coordinator Deanna Upchurch, who founded the camp. “We try to get them to understand, it’s OK to do these things.”

The second annual Camp BraveHeart is being held on Aug. 20 and 21, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jake and Desiree say they are going back.

“Kids should know it’s a lot of help with coping with things,” Desiree said. “It makes you see things differently. It helped me get my mind off it, think about something else, and have fun.”

Camp BraveHeart is free for Rhode Island children ages 6 to 17. Transportation is available from pre-arranged pickup and drop-off points. Call (401) 312-2363 before Monday, Aug. 11, to register. Space is limited. Tax-deductible donations may be sent to Home & Hospice Care of Rhode Island, Department of Philanthropy, 169 George St., Pawtucket, R.I. 02860.

amilkovi@projo.com