A Haven of Healing for Grieving Hearts: HopeWest Kids' Camp Good Grief

On a sunny, Friday afternoon, 40 young kids gathered to hop on big, yellow school buses headed for a weekend filled with incredible adventures and new friends at Camp Good Grief! Hosted by HopeWest Kids, this camp offers a special place where children in grades 3 through 8, who have lost a loved one, can have fun and find support.

This year, HopeWest Kids gave 20 scholarships so that no child would be turned away from this life-changing experience due to lack of resources. The outpouring of support from donors, volunteers, and staff members made this camp possible, showing the incredible impact that a community can have when they come together for a cause.

As the buses rumbled to Camp Cedaredge, these brave children found themselves united among peers navigating similar experiences at Camp Good Grief, each one trying to make sense of a world forever altered by the absence of a loved one.

The diversity of their grief experiences – including heartbreaking losses due to cancer, suicide, and homicide – painted an eye-opening picture of the challenges these resilient, young hearts face. Each camper’s story held a unique weight, but their shared grief allowed them to build friendships with other kids who understood their pain, providing a sense of relief and the knowledge that they were not alone in their grief.

“Seeing these resilient young campers work together and support one another alongside their own pain is truly awe-inspiring. Camp Good Grief provides a safe space for healing, where children find comfort in shared experiences, engage in age-appropriate activities with guided emotional processing, and build lifelong connections,” reflects Courtney Flores Rodriguez, Director of Bereavement. “With support from our community, we are providing hope to these kids and empowering them to embrace life’s journey ahead with renewed strength.”

Over the weekend, campers shared their stories and learned healthy coping skills through art-based activities, group discussions, and outdoor adventures. And thanks to thoughtful volunteers, every camper found warmth in receiving their very own handmade blanket as they embarked on a journey of healing.

The impact of Camp Good Grief extends far beyond those days at Camp Cedaredge. It sets in motion a ripple effect, empowering children to carry their newfound resilience, compassion, and coping skills into their daily lives. It equips them with the tools they need to navigate the unpredictable waves of grief and gives renewed hope for a healthy future.