Family Campout FAQs

How much does the trip cost? Wild Grief provides this trip at no cost. 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. Activities include: easy hikes, creative activities, and guided grief activities.  Peer groups 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 to bring clothing and a few personal items. We will provide families with a list of what to pack.

Who goes on these trips? Families who have experienced the death of a significant person in their lives and want to gather with other parents and children who are grieving. Families who want to grieve together in nature using a shared language and learning new skills to support one another. We recommend waiting at least three months after the death before participating in the Family Campout. See what past participants say about their experience at camp by watching these videos: 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, Family Campout has laughter, tears, fun and nature to play in. Everyone hangs out in groups of kids and adults to walk, talk, play and journal. Each person decides how much to share, how much to listen or play. Grief is not just sad and sometime the best jokes are dark humor shared with others who understand.

We’ve never camped before, can I still go? Yes! We prioritize families who have not had access to camping. Talk to us about any concerns and 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 how to be safe in nature.

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. Participants learn new tools to cope with their grief and parents also learn about how to support their children who are grieving. Many participants say that talking about grief in the forest brought them a sense of ease, peace and groundedness they hadn’t experienced elsewhere.

Can we bring our pets? Unfortunately, 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 10-14 families on each trip. Unfortunately, this means that not everyone who signs up will be able 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(s) they have experienced. We also prioritize families with barriers to camping and getting out in nature, or have had minimal or no grief support, low income families, and families with any marginalized identities including BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and disabilities.

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 often stay in contact with friends they have made at camp. Wild Grief also offers Monthly Grief Walks and Family Day Hikes and we hope you’ll join us sometime.