The Wendt Center for Loss and Healing is the go-to mental health resource in the region for children, adults, families, and communities suffering from life's hardest moments - death, illness, violence, and other experiences of loss and trauma.

For over 20 years, our Camp Forget-Me-Not/Camp Erin DC program has been a unique source of joy, support, and healing for grieving children and families in the area. To date, we have served over 1,300 grieving children (ages 6-17) by providing them an opportunity to enter a safe space away from their everyday lives to gently explore the normal yet overwhelming process of grief through summer camp events.

The Camp Model

We at Camp Forget-Me-Not/Camp Erin DC strive for a camp environment that cultivates kindness, compassion, respect, and inclusivity in an intentional and affirming way. Our camp programming is committed to fostering grief exploration, social skills, courage, and understanding in a healing and supportive space. We invite our camp community to preserve a safe and supportive environment that treats all people with dignity and thoughtful regard.

The day camp will offer traditional camp activities. Trained volunteers will support and mentor campers throughout all activities. Volunteers are specially trained to serve as role models in the grief process and help provide companionship. The individual attention that volunteers provide to campers is what makes Camp Forget-Me-Not/Camp Erin DC so special. Professional licensed therapists and counselors will lead several therapeutic group sessions designed to address the age-specific needs of grieving campers.

The Wendt Center believes that grief impacts the entire family system, which is why we are delighted to offer 3 in-person day camps, with updated, intentionally integrated caregiver and family programming this summer, in addition to several virtual family camp workshops in Fall 2023!

Fun Activities

Camp Forget-Me-Not/Camp Erin DC campers will enjoy a full day of traditional camp activities and grief focused workshops to help them explore a variety of ways to express themselves while developing skills. All the activities are intentionally designed to help campers express themselves, develop bonds with others, reduce feelings of isolation, and understand that they are not alone in their grief.

Now More Than Ever

This year, the need for our Camp services is higher than ever. Gun violence and drug overdoses are at epidemic levels; DC has the single highest opioid overdose death rate in the entire country and homicides are at a more than 20-year high. According to the Child Bereavement Estimation Model (2022), homicide is the leading cause of death for youth in DC. These figures contribute to a sobering statistic: in DC, 1 in 11 children experience the death of a parent or sibling before turning 18, translating to an estimated 11,000 bereaved young people.

We need your support to heal and uplift these bereaved young people and their families. Your contribution can help send children to Camp, where they will come together with their peers and caregivers to process, play, and heal.

Please join us by generously supporting this year's amazing camp programming! Help us provide support to youth suffering from the effects of epidemic levels of homicide, drug overdoses, and other causes of grief and trauma across DC.

The Wendt Center is only able to provide Camp Forget-Me-Not/Camp Erin DC free of charge because of generous donors like YOU!