Family Programs
After someone close to your family dies, it’s important for each of you to find peers who are experiencing similar losses. Wild Grief understands that each member of a family may grieve differently. Spending time together in the natural world helps each person reflect, grieve, and heal in their own way. Our family programs strive to support the needs of the individual as well as the needs of the family as a whole as you all learn to reform into a new shape after the loss of someone significant. Adult family members get to connect with each other about the unique challenges they face supporting grieving children while navigating their own grief landscape, while children play, explore nature, and process their grief in age appropriate ways.
Learn more below about our Family Journey Campout and our family day hikes.
Family Journey Campout
A weekend guided campout for families with children 18 and under, who have experienced the death of someone significant in their lives. Families have fun together on hikes and in games, connect with other grieving families, and learn skills to be with each other through the ongoing experience of loss. There will be opportunities to process grief together as a family as well as in peer groups through conversations, creative activities, and nature connection.
Who: Families of all shapes and sizes who have experienced the death of someone important to them. Due to our funding sources, we prioritize families living in Washington State, but do accept families from out of state when possible.
Where: Camp is held at Lewis and Clark State Park near Chehalis, WA (45 min south of Olympia) in a secluded group site surrounded by old growth cedars.
How much: The campout as well as all meals and camping gear are provided free of charge to all participants.
When in 2024:
Camp 1 - June 22th-24th, 2024
Camp 2 - July 13th-15th, 2024
The deadline to apply for our 2024 Family Journey Campout is now closed. Sign up for a Family Day Hike instead! To be notified when the application opens for 2024 Family Journey Campout, sign up to receive our newsletter.
Camp is made possible by the amazing ecosystem of support. The team that comes together tends to the details so that the participant can focus on their grief journey.
“I don’t know what I was expecting about camp, but what I got was 1000 times more than anything that I expected.”
Watch this video to hear how directly from the youth at camp how it helped them.
Family Day Hikes
Spend the day with others families who have lost a loved one while you explore the natural world and your place within it. You’ll spend 4 to 6 hours on easy to moderate trails with other families of all ages, share stories with other participants, eat together, and reflect on your personal journey.
Our Hikes are led by Wild Grief guides who are trained in first aid, hike leading, and grief support.
Who: Families of all shapes and sizes who have experienced the death of someone important to them.
Where: Various trails around the South and Central Puget Sound. Usually within 1-2 hours of Olympia.
How much: Free!
When in 2024:
Saturday, June 1st
Saturday, August 3rd
Unlike our overnight programs where there is an application process, you can register directly for our day hikes.
OTHER PROGRAMS THAT INCLUDE Families
Families are also welcome to join for our all-ages programs.
