Grief camps can be a fantastic tool for healing. Dr. Gloria Horsley interviews Coral Popowitz, the Executive Director of several grief camps around the country. Grief camp is an oxymoron, since nobody wants to think about attending one. However, the focus is on the camp aspect and it’s geared towards kids looking for a fun peer to peer outing. Adults can have just as much fun as kids, and there’s definitely a ritual and memorial aspect to it. Everyone arrives on a Friday, and nobody wants to be there but they feel a need to be there.

Her camps are throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin, but welcome campers from around the world. There are many camps around the world, and finding the one that fits you best is key. Popowitz works with former campers who said they didn’t want to be there, but it made such a great impact that they want to share their story with others. These men work as ambassadors, reaching out to men who are resistant to grief camps.

A Camp for All

Popowitz works with grief camp communities, helping to connect potential campers with the best experience for them. Camps can take anywhere from one day to several weeks, and there are a variety of budgets that can work with these camps. In fact, some camps are even free! Do some research, or if you’re grieving ask a friend or family member to research camps for you. Make a list of what you want and need in a camp, and use that as your guiding light.

Attending a camp is an opportunity to connect with fellow grievers, experts, and normalize the process. Loss is a natural part of the human experience, but is so often kept in the shadows. At a grief camp, you can learn to make grief a healthy part of life.