2026 Grief Camps
- Mackenzie Liberta
- Apr 24
- 8 min read
Summer can be especially hard for children who are grieving.The days feel less structured, routines shift, and moments like vacations, holidays, or family gatherings can quietly highlight who’s missing.
But, summer can also create space for connection, support, and healing for grief in ways that feel more approachable for kids.
Grief camps are one way to offer that and they provide something many families don’t realize they need:
A space where kids don’t have to explain their loss
Connection with other children who “get it”
Support from trained professionals who understand childhood grief
Opportunities to process grief through art, games, and outdoor activities
For parents and caregivers, this can mean your child feels less alone in their grief while building healthy coping skills in a supportive environment. And for professionals, grief camps can be a valuable referral option, especially for children who benefit from peer connection alongside therapeutic support.
If you’re trying to figure out what support could look like this summer, this guide brings together grief camps across the Chicagoland area to help you explore your options and find something that feels right for your family.
A creative arts-based grief camp for children who have experienced the death of a parent, blending emotional support with music, movement, and visual expression.
Overview: Hearts to Art is a creative arts-based grief camp for children ages 7-14 who have experienced the death of a parent. The program uses music, movement, theatre, and visual arts as tools to help children express their grief in ways that feel natural and approachable.
What to Expect: Campers participate in a variety of creative activities while connecting with peers who have experienced a similar loss. The environment is designed to foster emotional expression, build confidence, and create a sense of belonging. Licensed clinicians and trained counselors are present throughout the camp to provide support and guide small group interactions.
Who This May Be a Good Fit For:
Children who express themselves more comfortably through art, music, or movement
Kids who may benefit from connecting with peers who have experienced a similar loss
Families looking for a balance of structured support and creative expression
Summer 2026 Details:
Location: St. Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Church, Chicago
Dates:
Session 1 (Grades 2–5): July 13–24
Session 2 (Grades 6–8): July 27–August 7 (currently waitlist)
Cost: Free
A creative, one-day grief camp for children ages 5-12 that uses art, music, movement, writing, and nature-based activities to help children express grief and remember their person in supportive ways.
Overview: Blue Elephant Children’s Grief Camp is a one-day program designed for children ages 5-12 who are grieving the death of a loved one. The camp offers a supportive environment where children can engage in creative and expressive activities alongside peers who have experienced similar loss.
The focus is on helping children explore grief through hands-on experiences that feel safe, accessible, and developmentally appropriate.
What to Expect: Campers rotate through a variety of expressive and therapeutic activities designed to support emotional processing and connection. These may include art-based projects, music creation, movement, writing, and nature-based experiences. Children are also given opportunities to create tangible keepsakes that honor and remember their person.
The day is facilitated by trained grief professionals who guide activities and hold space for both individual expression and peer connection.
Who This May Be a Good Fit For:
Children ages 5-12 who benefit from creative, hands-on activities
Kids who may struggle to verbalize their grief but express themselves through play or art
Families looking for a structured, one-day grief support experience
Children who would benefit from connecting with peers who have also experienced a loss
Summer 2026 Details:
Location: Lisle, Illinois (Morton Arboretum)
Dates: July 23, 2026
Cost: Funded by the Residential Hospice Foundation (no cost to families)
A free, multi-day grief camp for children ages 7-13 that combines outdoor activities and creative expression to help kids process grief, build coping skills, and connect with peers who have experienced a loss.
Overview: Peace of the Heart Kids Camp is a multi-day grief camp for children ages 7-13 who have experienced the death of a loved one. Hosted by Lightways, the camp provides a supportive, structured environment where children can explore grief alongside peers while engaging in meaningful, developmentally appropriate activities.
The focus is on helping children express emotions, build coping skills, and feel less alone in their grief through connection and shared experience.
What to Expect: Campers participate in a mix of outdoor and creative activities designed to support emotional expression and connection. These may include hiking, fishing, arts and crafts, music, games, and other hands-on experiences that allow children to process grief in both active and reflective ways.
Throughout the camp, children are supported by trained grief professionals who guide activities, facilitate group connection, and hold space for emotional expression in a safe and supportive environment.
Who This May Be a Good Fit For:
Children ages 7-13 who benefit from both active and creative outlets
Kids who may feel isolated in their grief and would benefit from peer connection
Families looking for a free, structured, multi-day grief support experience
Children who do well in outdoor, experiential learning environments
Summer 2026 Details:
Location: Pilcher Park Nature Center, Joliet, IL (serving Chicagoland area)
Dates: June 29 - July 2, 2026 from 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM daily
Cost: No cost (funded by Lightways Grief Support Program)
A free, overnight grief camp for children and teens ages 6-17 who have experienced the death of a significant person in their life, combining traditional camp experiences with structured grief support.
Overview: Camp Erin Chicago is part of a national grief camp network designed for children and teens ages 6-17 who are grieving the death of a significant person in their lives. This overnight camp blends typical camp activities with intentional grief support, creating space for both connection and emotional processing.
The focus is on helping children feel less alone, build coping skills, and connect with peers who understand what they are going through.
What to Expect: Campers take part in a traditional overnight camp experience while also engaging in structured grief support activities led by trained bereavement professionals and volunteers.
Alongside recreational camp experiences, children are given opportunities to explore their grief, share their experiences in age-appropriate ways, and participate in activities that support coping and remembrance.
The environment is designed to balance fun, connection, and emotional support, with the goal of helping children understand they are not alone in their grief.
Who This May Be a Good Fit For:
Children and teens ages 6-17 who have experienced the death of a significant person
Kids who may benefit from peer connection alongside structured grief support
Families looking for a free, overnight grief camp experience
Children who are ready for a group-based, immersive camp environment
Summer 2026 Details:
Location: Delavan, WI (overnight camp location: Northwestern Settlement partnership site)
Dates: July 17-19, 2026
Cost: Free of cost
Contact: Bryan Heidel at bheidel@nush.org or (773) 569-9553
A free grief camp for children and teens who have experienced the death of a parent, sibling, or legal guardian due to homicide, offering a trauma-informed space for connection, support, and healing.
Overview: Camp Sheilah is a grief camp for children and teens who are grieving the death of a parent, sibling, or legal guardian due to homicide. Hosted by Kids Above All, the camp provides a supportive environment where youth can connect with peers who have experienced similar loss.
The focus is on helping children feel less alone in their grief while offering opportunities for emotional expression, connection, and coping in a structured and supportive setting.
What to Expect: Campers participate in a combination of traditional camp-style activities and structured grief support. Activities are facilitated by trained mental health professionals and are designed to help children process grief in developmentally appropriate ways.
Throughout the experience, campers are given opportunities for creative expression, peer connection, and remembrance of their loved ones in a safe and supportive group environment.
Who This May Be a Good Fit For:
Children and teens who have experienced the death of a parent, sibling, or legal guardian due to homicide
Youth who may benefit from trauma-informed grief support and peer connection
Families looking for a structured grief support experience in a camp setting
Children who are ready for group-based emotional support and engagement
Summer 2026 Details:
Location: Typically in Frankfort, IL
Dates: September 11-13, 2026
Cost: Free of cost
A free grief camp for children ages 5-17 who have experienced the death of a loved one, offering a supportive environment where kids can process grief through creative expression, education, and connection with peers.
Overview: Camp Kangaroo is a bereavement camp for children ages 5-17 who have recently experienced the death of a loved one. Offered in partnership with hospice and grief care professionals, the camp provides a safe and supportive environment where children can explore their grief alongside peers who have had similar experiences.
The focus of the program is to help children feel less alone while offering opportunities for emotional expression, coping skill development, and gentle grief education in a supportive group setting.
What to Expect: Campers participate in a mix of therapeutic and creative activities designed to support grief processing in a developmentally appropriate way.
The camp is led by trained professionals and bereavement specialists who support children throughout the experience, helping them process emotions and build coping strategies in a safe, structured environment. This program is psychotherapy and creative arts therapy based.
Who This May Be a Good Fit For:
Children ages 5-17 who have experienced the death of a loved one
Kids who benefit from creative, play-based approaches to emotional expression
Families looking for a free, structured grief support experience
Children who may feel isolated in their grief and would benefit from peer connection
Summer 2026 Details:
Location: Concordia University in River Forest, IL
Dates: June 26-28, 2026
Cost: Free of cost
A free, week-long grief camp for children and teens who have experienced the death of a parent, sibling, or primary caregiver, combining traditional summer camp experiences with clinically informed peer support.
Overview: Experience Camps is a free, one-week overnight camp for children and teens who are grieving the death of a parent, sibling, or primary caregiver. The Michigan camp is part of a national network of programs designed to help grieving youth connect with peers who understand their experience.
The goal of the camp is to reduce isolation, normalize grief, and create a supportive environment where kids can be kids while also having space to process their loss.
What to Expect: Campers participate in a traditional summer camp experience that includes recreational activities, group games, and community living, alongside structured grief support. The program is led by licensed mental health professionals and trained bereavement staff who facilitate small group discussions, coping skill development, and opportunities for remembrance and sharing.
A core part of the experience is connection, helping children meet others who “get it” while engaging in fun, developmentally appropriate camp activities.
Who This May Be a Good Fit For:
Children entering approximately grades 4-12 who have experienced the death of a parent, sibling, or primary caregiver
Kids who may feel isolated in their grief and would benefit from peer connection
Families looking for a structured, immersive, week-long grief support experience
Children who are ready for a traditional camp setting with integrated emotional support
Summer 2026 Details:
Location: Camps Lake of the Woods & Greenwoods, Decatur, Michigan
Dates: August 18–23, 2026
Cost: Free of cost
If your child or family has attended any of these camps, what has your experience been like? Are there other camps in the Chicagoland area that you’ve found helpful for grieving children and teens? Share in the comments below - your insight may help another family choose what is best for them.
Interested in receiving support for you or your children? Contact The Grieving Space for more information.
The Grieving Space is not affiliated with any of the camps listed above. This guide is intended to share information and resources to help families explore support options.
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