For over 20 years, the Wendt Center's Camp Forget-Me-Not/Camp Erin DC has offered grieving children (ages 6-17) an opportunity to enter a safe space away from their everyday lives to gently explore the normal yet overwhelming process of grief.

Due to Covid, 2020 was the first time in 21 years that the Wendt Center could not provide an in-person grief sleep away camp for children. This summer we are incredibly excited to be able to offer 3 in-person day camps, followed by several virtual camp workshops for the whole family in Fall, 2021! This will provide a unique opportunity to share memories and explore grief in a safe setting where all participant's self-expression is heard, valued, validated, and honored.

The Camp Model

At a Camp Forget-Me-Not/Camp Erin DC day camp, specially trained volunteers serve as role models in the grief process and help provide companionship and support to participants. Professional licensed therapists and counselors lead several therapeutic group sessions designed to address the age-specific needs of grieving participants. Within the virtual camp workshop program, families can choose from a variety of creative workshops facilitated by grief specialists that foster family communication, grief exploration, and healthy coping strategies.

Fun Activities

Camp Forget-Me-Not/Camp Erin DC participants enjoy both traditional and nontraditional camp activities that foster self-esteem, social skill building, and verbal/non-verbal expression of grief-related feelings and thoughts. Creative activities include drumming, creative writing, mindfulness, therapeutic art, drama, and more. All activities are specially designed to help participants express themselves and develop bonds with other grieving individuals. Both the in person and virtual camp programs promote family and community connectiveness, support, fun, and a greater awareness of grief.

Please join us by generously supporting this year's amazing camp programming! Help us counter the social isolation, loss of ritualizing grief and in-person grief support brought on by living in a pandemic!

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