Alex Blackwood black shirt

Alex Blackwood

Two camps in Central Arkansas zero in on the issue of suicide — one to help young people cope with a loss and another to help teens learn how to intervene with a struggling peer.

This fall, Camp Aldersgate will sponsor Camp Conquer, a suicide prevention camp designed to equip high schoolers with the skills to recognize and approach a friend or classmate who may be contemplating self-harm. The camp, the only one of its kind in Arkansas, draws teens from all subsets of high school life and blends social activities with Safe Talks, a standardized program that teaches campers how to ask the right questions of peers and alert the appropriate help when needed.

The camp hosted 32 teens from all Little Rock public high schools last year and is hoping to expand to include private schools in 2018. For more information, contact Ali Miller Berry, director of programs at amiller@campaldersgate.net or (501) 225-1444.

The Alex Blackwood Foundation hosts Camp Alex, a fun and safe healing environment for grieving kids whose lives have been affected by suicide. The camp, founded by Steve and Cindi Blackwood in honor of their son, provides an opportunity to develop lasting connections and valuable coping skills that benefit campers throughout their lives.

This year’s Camp Alex is scheduled for June 24-28. For more information or to make a donation to sponsor a camper, contact AlexBlackwoodFoundation@gmail.com or (888) 901-5554.