Family journey campout faqs.

How much does the trip cost? Wild Grief provides this trip at no cost to everyone by fundraising so any family who is grieving can participate. All food, camping gear and supplies are provided.

What happens on this trip? Families will have opportunities to spend time together as well as time in peer groups. Families go on easy hikes, engage in creative activities at our art table, and participate in some guided grief activities together. Peer groups take time away from main camp to engage in age appropriate grief programming throughout the weekend while parents/guardians connect about their grief and the unique aspects of parenting on a grief journey. Everyone will have meals together and sit around the campfire at night.

What gear do I need? Wild Grief provides all the major gear for camping as needed including tents, sleeping bags, day packs, rain gear, base layers, fleece, and all food. You will need a few other personal items and we will provide you a gear list.

Who goes on these trips? Families who are feeling that the grief that they carry is a bit too heavy; who want to learn some new skills to process your grief and support each other; who want to connect with nature together, and with other families who know what it’s like to have a person close to them die. We recommend waiting at least 3 months after the death before participating in our Family Journey Campout. Both parents and children planning to attend camp should have had a significant relationship with the person who died to be able to participate fully with their peers. It might be helpful to watch videos of families from past camps here and here.

Am I going to be crying the whole time? No, that's not our goal, it won’t be 3 days of sadness. Camp is full of laughter, games, throwing balls and blowing bubbles. When you set aside time to honor and process your grief, feelings may surface that you have been avoiding, but you are in charge of your process. Together we will build a supportive container to open up to our feelings and take steps forward on our grief journey.

We’ve never camped before, can I still go? Yes! We prioritize families who have never camped and it will be a supportive experience to learn about camping basics in addition to processing your grief. Talk to us about any concerns, we can help you figure out what to expect and how to get ready.

Are there snakes, or spiders, or other fearsome creatures?? What’s out there? Our camp out is in Southwest Washington State and there are no venomous snakes or dangerous insects in the area. Our guides will teach you proper etiquette to avoid wild creatures.

How does this help me? Families who have come to camp have shared that it helped them feel less isolated and alone to be around other families who are also grieving. Parents learn new tools to cope with their own grief and learn about how to support their children who are grieving. Having the space and time to give your full attention to being together as a family in nature brings some peace and an opening to start unpacking the many layers of emotion that come along with grief.

Can we bring our pets? We are sorry, but we are not able to accommodate pets. We can only allow dogs that are classified and trained specifically as service animals and they must perform a specific task that assists a person with a disability. Emotional support or comfort animals are not service animals.

Who’s leading the trip? What are their qualifications? Wild Grief guides have experience in camping, leading hikes as well as training in first aid and grief support. See the Wild Grief guide page for information about individual guides' background and training.

Will I definitely get to attend if I sign up? We have capacity for between 10-12 families on each trip, depending on how many children each family has. Unfortunately, this means that not everyone who signs up will get to attend. We will be working behind the scenes to put together groups that will work well together based on the ages of children and the type of death experience they have gone through. We are also prioritizing populations who experience barriers to camping and getting out into nature.

How do I talk to my children about participating? Show them photos and videos from past camps and share with them what sounds fun to you about this trip and why you want to attend.

What happens after the trip? Families will be encouraged to keep in contact with each other. We hope to have reunion hikes in the future. Wild Grief also offers Hike Habit, short monthly hikes in the South Sound area, and Day Hikes for families. You are welcome to stay connected with us by attending these!

Apply for family journey campout