Camps & Programs
Several summer camp programs in Massachusetts and beyond have been developed for children, teens, and families grieving the loss of a family member. Most offer free or discounted programs. The programs listed below are not affiliated with The Children’s Room but may interest your family.
Camp Angel Wings
Hosted by: Southcoast VNA
Location: Assonet, MA
Contact: (800) 698-6877
Website: Camp Angel Wings – Southcoast VNA
Description: A two-day bereavement camp for children and teens grieving the loss of a loved one.
Camp Dates: July 12–13, 2025
Register: Sign up here
Camp Dragonfly
Hosted by: Androscoggin Home Healthcare + Hospice
Location: Tripp Lake Camp, Poland, ME
Contact: (207) 777-7740 or bereavement@androscoggin.org
Website: Camp Dragonfly
Description: A day-long grief camp for children and teens ages 6–17 and their families. Includes music, art, and coping skills.
Camp Date: Saturday, June 7, 2025, 9am–4pm
Pre-registration Deadline: June 2, 2025
Register: Sign up here
Camp Erin Albany
Hosted by: The Community Hospice
Location: Speculator, NY
Contact: (518) 724-0200, tiffany.m.smith@sphp.com
Website: Camp Erin Albany
Description: A free weekend bereavement camp for children and teens ages 6–17. Combines traditional camp fun with grief support.
Camp Dates: September 19–21, 2025
Details: Visit website or email for updates.
Camp Erin Boston
Hosted by: Heartplay | Good Shepherd Community Care
Location: Middleborough, MA
Contact: Jennifer Wiles – jwiles@gscommunitycare.org, (508) 309-5107
Website: www.camperinboston.org
Description: A free, weekend bereavement camp for youth ages 6–17, combining grief support and traditional camp fun.
Camp Date: August 23, 2025
Register: Sign up here
Camp Erin New York City
Hosted by: The COPE Foundation
Location: Preston Park, PA
Contact: (914) 552-6919, afuchs@copefoundation.com
Website: Camp Erin NYC
Description: A free weekend bereavement camp for ages 6–17, offering traditional activities and grief education.
Camp Dates: August 22–24, 2025
Register: Sign up here
Camp Good Grief
Hosted by: East End Hospice
Location: Center Moriches, NY
Contact: (631) 288-8400
Website: Camp Good Grief
Description: A therapeutic bereavement day camp for children ages 4–17 who have experienced a loss.
Camp Dates: July 21–24, 2025
Register: Registration opens April 16, 2025 – Sign up here
Camp Good Mourning!
Location: Center Moriches, NY
Contact: (631) 772-9115, Info.CampGoodMourning@gmail.com
Website: Camp Good Mourning!
Facebook: Camp Good Mourning!
Description: A free bereavement camp for Long Island children ages 7–17 coping with the loss of a parent or sibling.
Spring Dates: May 2–4, 2025 at Camp Quinipet, Shelter Island
Fall Dates: October 24–26, 2025 at Camp Quinipet, Shelter Island
Register: Spring Application – Fall application TBD
Camp Kangaroo
Hosted by: Seasons Hospice Foundation, AccentCare Hospice
Location: Sharon, MA
Contact: (847) 692-1000
Website: Camp Kangaroo
Description: A free bereavement camp for children who have experienced the death of a loved one. Includes grief education, emotional support, and fun camp activities.
Camp Dates: August 22–24, 2025 (Connecticut camp only)
Note: No camp in MA for Summer 2025
Camp Kesem
Locations: Boston, Newton, Cambridge (MA); Providence, RI; Hanover, NH
Contact: (253) 736-3821
Website: Camp Kesem
Description: A nationwide community led by college students that supports children through and beyond a parent’s cancer. Serves children who’ve lost a parent to cancer, have a parent in treatment, or are cancer survivors.
Camp Dates: Summer 2025 (dates vary by location)
Register: Sign up for MA | NH | RI
Camp Kita
Location: Belgrade, ME
Contact: info@campkita.com
Website: Camp Kita
Description: A free, week-long bereavement camp in rural Maine for children ages 8–17 who’ve lost a loved one to suicide. Includes traditional summer camp and 24/7 clinical support.
Camp Dates: August 11–16, 2025
Register: Sign up here
Camp Mariposa Nashua
Location: Nashua, NH
Contact: mariposa@bgcn.com, (603) 883-0523 ext. 218
Website: Camp Mariposa
Description: A free, year-round program for youth ages 9–17 affected by a family member’s substance use disorder. Offers up to 6 weekend camps a year.
Youth Camp Dates: March 14–16, May 2–4, July 18–20, Sept 12–14, Nov 14–16, 2025
Teen Camp Dates: April 11–13, May 30–June 1, Aug 15–17, Oct 17–19, Dec 5–7, 2025
Register: Click here
Camp Ramah New England
Location: Palmer, MA
Contact: Riki Wiederhorn – rikiw@campramahne.org | Ken Milgram – KMilgram@campramahne.org
Website: Camp Ramah
Description: Jewish overnight camp for families of all affiliations. Offers summer camp, pediatric oncology retreats, and family weekends.
Camp Dates: Summer 2025 (see website)
Pediatric Oncology Retreat: April 25–27, 2025 (free for families)
Register: Sign up here
Camp Stepping Stones
Hosted by: Care Dimensions Hospice
Location: Beverly, MA
Contact: (855) 774-5100
Website: Camp Stepping Stones
Description: A one-day family retreat for children ages 4–18 and their families who have experienced the death of someone important. Connect with others, honor loved ones, and have fun. Free for MA residents.
Camp Dates: Summer 2025 info not yet available
Camp Sunshine
Location: Casco, ME
Contact: (207) 655-3800, info@campsunshine.org | sfeyler@campsunshine.org
Website: Camp Sunshine
Description: Year-round retreat for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families. Includes medical support and a bereavement session for families who have lost a child. Free of charge.
Camp Dates: Vary by illness type and session – see website for summer 2025 schedule
Register: Link Here
Circle Camps for Grieving Children – Circle of Tapawingo
Location: Sweden, ME
Contact: (920) 988-8759, info@circlecamps.org
Website: Circle Camps
Description: A free, week-long overnight camp for girls ages 9–16 who have experienced the death of a parent. Campers experience traditional camp fun and grief support in a nurturing environment.
Tapawingo Camp Dates: August 18–23, 2025 (Sweden, ME)
Other Locations: Rutledge, GA – July 20–25, Morgantown, WV – August 11–16
Register: Sign up here by June 1, 2025
Comfort Zone Camp
Location: Sandwich, MA
Contact: (804) 377-3430, info@comfortzonecamp.org
Website: Comfort Zone Camp
Description: Free bereavement camps for children and teens ages 7–17 who have lost a parent, sibling, or caregiver. Offers trust-building activities and peer support. Also offers young adult programs (18–25).
MA Camp Dates: May 30–June 1, 2025 (Camp Burgess) and Sept 26–28, 2025 (Camp Ramah)
Other Camps: Suicide Loss, Overdose Loss, and Young Adult Retreats across NJ, NY, and MI.
Register: Sign up here
Experience Camps: Maine
Locations: Camp Manitou (Oakland, ME – boys), Camp Somerset (Smithfield, ME – girls)
Contact: (833) 226-7385, gayle@experiencecamps.org
Website: Experience Camps
Description: A no-cost, one-week overnight summer camp for children who’ve experienced the death of a parent, sibling, or caregiver. For kids entering grades 4–12.
Camp Dates: August 18–23, 2025
Register: Sign up here
Experience Camps: Massachusetts – Weekend Family Camp
Location: Camp Burgess, Sandwich, MA (Northwest Cape Cod)
Website: Family Camp Info
Description: A free weekend camp for families where a child has lost a parent or primary caregiver. Focused on connection, bonding, and shared grief experiences.
Camp Dates: August 30–September 1, 2025 (Labor Day weekend)
Register: Sign up here
Fleur de Lis Camp: Circle Week
Location: Fitzwilliam, NH
Contact: (603) 585-7751, claudia@fleurdeliscamp.org
Website: Fleur de Lis Circle Week
Description: A free grief-focused overnight camp for girls ages 8–15 who’ve experienced a loss. Combines traditional camp with emotional support and grief work. Transportation available from MA and NH.
Camp Dates: August 17–22, 2025
Register: Sign up here
Outward Bound – Expeditions for Grieving Teens
Website: Outward Bound Grieving Teens
Description: Outdoor wilderness expeditions for teens ages 14–18 grieving the death of a loved one. Offers connection, personal growth, and a supportive group experience. Not therapy-based, but deeply healing.
Camp Dates: Summer 2025 dates not yet released
Register: See more info
Rett’s Roost: Open to Healing Retreats
Locations: Ogunquit & Saco, ME; North Andover, MA
Contact: info@rettsroost.org
Website: Rett’s Roost
Description: Bereavement retreats for families who’ve lost a child to chronic illness. Includes family rituals, grief tools, and empathetic connection.
Camp Dates:
- June 29–July 3, 2025 – One Mission Open to Healing
- July 27–31, 2025 – Positively Healing (w/ Camp Casco)
- October 10–13, 2025 – Healing Nest Retreat
- November 7–9, 2025 – Caring for the Caregiver Retreat
TAPS Good Grief Camp (National Military Survivor Seminar)
Location: Scottsdale, AZ (and nationwide)
Contact: 800-959-TAPS (8277), youthprograms@taps.org
Website: TAPS Good Grief Camps
Description: Grief camps for children and teens grieving the death of a military loved one (including suicide loss). Campers are matched with military mentors and supported through structured activities.
Camp Dates: 2025 Arizona session confirmed; other locations nationwide throughout the year
Register: Learn more
The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp
Location: Ashford, CT
Contact: (860) 429-3444, admissions@holeinthewallgang.org
Website: Hole in the Wall Gang Camp
Description: Weeklong summer programs for children with serious illnesses and one session for healthy siblings. Campers ages 7–15 enjoy a wide range of activities in a supportive environment.
Camp Dates: Summer 2025
Register: Sign up here
Wildflower: Support for Summer Camp Experiences
Contact: (781) 861-1413, dgardner@wildflowerforkids.org
Website: Wildflower
Description: Provides grieving children ages 5–18 with financial and emotional support to attend summer camps after the loss of a parent. Also supports surviving caregivers.
Camp Dates: Partner camps vary; applications for 2025 are closed, but 2026 applications are welcome.
Register: Apply here
