Family journey camp out faqs.

Family Journey Camp Out

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.

What happens on this trip? Families will have opportunities to spend time together as a family as well as time in peer groups. Families will go for easy hikes, have creative activities to process grief, peer group time where we talk about our grief, as well as time to play games, laugh and have fun. Families will also 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 like you, 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 feel the freedom of being away from their everyday existence to connect with nature as a family; who want to connect 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 Family Camp. 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.

Am I going to be crying the whole time? No, that's not our goal, it won’t be 3 days of sadness. Setting aside time to honor and process your grief can be scary, feelings may surface that you have been avoiding but you are in charge of your process. Together we will have time and support for talking, being silent, crying, expressing frustrations, building friendships, laughing and more.

We’ve never camped before, can I still go? Yes. Wild Grief has designed this camp-out to work for people new to camping. We are prioritizing 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 lions, or tigers? What’s out there? OH MY! 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? Having the space and time to give your full attention to being together as a family in nature is a transformative experience that allows your inner process to emerge and unfold. Guides have experience in supporting families in their grief journey. You will be supported in sharing and processing as much or as little as you want.

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. If obtaining pet care during the program is a barrier to participation, talk to us about how we might be able to help you get that care.

Who’s leading the trip? What are their qualifications? Hike leaders have experience in camping, leading hikes, first aid and grief support. See the about page for information about individuals background and training.

Will I definitely get to attend if I sign up? We have capacity for between 6-8 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 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 periodic Day Hikes for all ages. You are welcome to stay connected with us by attending these!

How will Wild Grief keep participants safe during the COVID Pandemic? The COVID pandemic and our response to it changes as conditions and best practices change. Please check our current policies here.

Other

I want to volunteer, how can I help? We are going to need many volunteers to make this program happen! Volunteers can either camp out with us for the weekend, or just come for a day. The Camp Out is located about 40 minutes south of Olympia. Sign up here if you’d like to volunteer!

What does Wild Grief need to support this work? You can spread the word about our programs, like us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram, and donate money or gear. If you get a lot out of the trip and have the financial means, we welcome you to pay it forward to help support future families by donating to Wild Grief.