Bereavement camps: what they are, what they do, and who should attend them

At a young age, a child may have a difficult time processing the loss of a loved one. It may be even more difficult if their parents or guardians are not able to help them do so. Many adults feel unable to guide their child through the grieving process because they may be overrun with grief themselves. Fortunately, there are bereavement camps that their child can attend to receive social support from other children and child psychologists. This article describes bereavement camps, their activities, and how children can attend them.

What are they?

Bereavement camps are best described as a combination of group therapy and summer camp. Typically, they are held for two days over a weekend. They are made up of children with a maximum age difference of four years apart who are discouraged from using technology.

During camp, the children stay in cabins with a dining hall and outdoor space to participate in professionally led group activities. The structure and setting prevents grieving children from isolating themselves, being exposed to negativity on the internet, and being triggered by environments that remind them of their loved ones.

Thanks to funding provided by nonprofit organizations, bereavement camps allow grieving children to relate to each other and learn strategies to cope with the loss of loved ones.

What activities are done?

Bereavement camps host activities that make grieving children feel confidence and catharsis. Self-esteem building activities make campers realize that they can overcome their circumstances, while team-building activities make them realize that their circumstances do not make them outcasts. Campers that act shy during those activities are able to express themselves through art activities and interactions with therapy animals.

All of the aforementioned activities may be done outdoors, which may remind campers of the interconnectedness of life and reduce their levels of depression and anxiety. Ideally, children of every disposition will find something they enjoy or gravitate to.

Which children are suitable to attend?

Bereavement camps are accessible to children of various ages, types of losses, and learning styles. There are bereavement camps for children as young as age six and as old as age seventeen. Some bereavement camps are made specifically for children who lost specific loved ones, such as their siblings. Other bereavement camps are made specifically for children who lost loved ones to specific causes, such as cancer.

In general, bereavement camps are made for children who often learn skills and cope with events in non-traditional ways.

How do I sign a child up?

Registering a child for bereavement camp is a thorough process to ensure that the child will be benefited by it. A child and their parents or guardians may discover a bereavement camp by searching the National Alliance for Grieving Children or their local area. When they do, they should create an account and complete an application on the bereavement camp’s website. Afterwards, the bereavement camp’s staff will assess the child and interview their guardians. Within two to three weeks, the bereavement camp’s staff will inform the child and their guardians of their acceptance or rejection. Bereavement camps want to be confident that the children attending will not experience emotional distress and that they’re attending for the right reasons.

Bereavement camps show that grieving is not one-size-fits-all. Children similar in age are able to escape on nature retreats. They participate in self-esteem building, team-building, and artistic activities to address their feelings and improve their mental health. The activities may vary depending on the type of loved ones that the children lost or the cause of their losses. A child’s guardians can sign them up by application. Bereavement camps offer unique and constructive grieving experiences for children who have lost loved ones.

— Madison Kemp