Camp Widow

Wise words from Carolyn Harrington.

Registration for Camp Widow Seattle is officially OPEN! 💙

This one-day Camp Widow event held at the Edmonds Waterfront Center, just north of Seattle, will feature workshops, discussions, and resources for all widowed people.

You can register today here: https://www.eventsquid.com/event.cfm?id=24998

"A healthy social life is found only when, in the mirror of each soul, the whole community finds its reflection, and when, in the whole community, the virtue of each one is living." - Rudolf Steiner ❤

Were you nervous or apprehensive before your first camp? So many of us were! It can be intimidating and anxiety-inducing to enter new social spaces in general. When you add the fact that our lives have been radically altered and we are grieving an incredibly profound loss . . . it makes SO much sense to be scared.

If you are thinking of attending Camp Widow, but are feeling nervous about the idea - we see you, we can relate, and we hope these words from a fellow camper bring some comfort. 💙

For the past few years, our Camp Widow Kids Program has been an impactful and meaningful part of our Camp Widow San Diego Event. Camp Widow Kids allows the adults to fully participate in everything Camp Widow, while also providing the children with community and healing of their own.

We are very excited that we will be taking Camp Widow Kids on the road with us to TWO of our 2025 locations! Both Chicago and Houston will have an optional Camp Widow Kids program. Stay tuned for more information in the upcoming months!

"Out of a mountain of despair, a stone of hope . . ."

Us widowed people know despair all too well. The pain of losing our person is earth-shattering. Yet day after day, we SOMEHOW find the strength to continue on and face the world - even if "facing" the world sometimes means crying our eyes out in bed all day. What is your stone of hope today? What is keeping you going?

As widowed people, many of us spent SO much time with our person . . . the loneliness that sets in after their death can be so inexplicably painful. We were used to having them around all the time - and then suddenly, they are not physically by our side anymore. How have you coped with loneliness in your grief? When you feel lonely, do you reach out to others?

"You're one of those people that make my life better just by being in it."

Can you relate to this? As widowed people, the friendships we make with other widowed people can be SO powerful. Tag someone below who makes your life better just by being there! 🧡 ⬇️

Registration for Camp Widow Houston is officially OPEN! 🧡 🚌

This one-day Camp Widow event will be held on March 1st, 2025, at the Young Women's College Preparatory Academy (YWCPA). It will feature workshops, discussions, and resources for all widowed people. We hope to see you in Houston!

You can register today at: https://www.eventsquid.com/event.cfm?id=24997

For many widowed and grieving people, a big part of our personal survival and wellness is dependent on making connections with others. In leaning on community for support, we can learn how to show up better for ourselves, and in turn, for others. Thank you for being here - we need you! 💙

"Share your story . . . that is how you will make connections."

Do you remember the first time you shared your story at Camp Widow, or to another widowed person elsewhere? How did you feel before, and how did you feel after?

We just had to share these photos from our Dia De Los Mu***os Dance at Camp Widow San Diego 2024! Between the offrenda, the bright colorful outfits, and the smiling faces . . . there was so much beauty coexisting amidst our collective grief. Thank you for showing up and being your authentic selves. Thank you for bringing your grief, joy, pain, and everything in between. Thank you for continuing to show us that hope matters!

"It's when we start working together that the real healing takes place" - David Hume

"Living in fear of the unknown is okay. Know that you are not alone. The Widowed Community is here for you!"

Some more encouraging inspiration from our community! How does the Widowed Community show up for you? How do you show up for others?

How do you keep your heart open to love and connection in your grief?

Regional pride at Camp Widow San Diego 2024! 🧡 Where did you travel from?

"All healing is first a healing of the heart" - Carl Townsend ❤

At Camp Widow Tampa and Camp Widow San Diego this year, we asked you all to write messages of hope to the new campers the program will reach in 2025. As we bring Camp Widow on the road, we are taking all of your kind words, experience, and advice with us. Thank you for sharing your message of hope, healing, and love!

There were SO many hugs and SO much love at Camp Widow San Diego! We are taking this love, packing it up, and bringing it with us on the road. We are so excited to spread the message of Camp Widow far and wide across the U.S. in 2025!

"Words of kindness are more healing to a drooping heart than balm or honey" - Sarah Fielding ❤

How have kind words positively impacted your grief journey?

The first stop on the Camp Widow Road Trip is . . . Los Angeles!

Soaring Spirits International is proud to offer our first population specific Camp Widow Pop-up event designed to serve the LGBTQ+ widowed community. This camp program held in Los Angeles in partnership with the Los Angeles LGBT Center will feature workshops, discussions, and resources addressing the unique needs of LGBTQ+ people who have experienced the death of a spouse or partner.

Registration will be open only to members of the LGBTQ+ widowed community, a group of people who have long been under-served in the areas of bereavement and partner loss.

Learn more and register here: https://campwidow.org/camp/los-angeles/

Yesterday we announced the 5 cities we are bringing Camp Widow to in 2025 - Los Angeles, Houston, Seattle, Chicago, and Washington, D.C.! Are we coming to a city near you?! Let us know in the comments ⬇

Learn more about our 2025 Camp Widow events here: https://campwidow.org/camps/

When asking campers about their experience at Camp Widow, we hear this feedback time and time again: "I felt HEARD".

Connecting with a group of people who can relate to our experience can make sharing and opening up a whole lot easier. It can be so validating to hear someone say - "I know that feeling", or "I've been through that, too". Our hope is that Camp Widow can be that space for all widowed people.

At Camp Widow San Diego, we were each asked in our own track sessions (Newly Widowed, Recent Widowed, Middle Widowed and Seasoned Widowed) to share what we were proud of ourselves for at the beginning of camp, and then at the end we were asked what we are proud of now and how we are feeling more connected to other widowed people. Check out all the beauty that your widowed community had to share!

And if you didn't make it to Camp Widow, we would love to hear from you too! What are you proud of yourself for? How have you gotten connected with other widowed people? We are so glad you are a part of this community too ❤❤❤

As you all may have heard, Soaring Spirits International is committing to doubling the impact of the Camp Widow and Camp Widow Kids’ programs. In 2025 we plan to hold twice as many US based events, using our one-day Camp Widow Pop-up format. Our goal is to increase access to the Camp Widow program by removing the barriers that prevent many widowed people from being able to attend.

We have some very exciting announcements coming up later this week - stay tuned! 🧡🚌

How have your friends showed up for you in your grief?

You are not alone 💙

Are you coming to Camp Widow Toronto, hosted by Soaring Spirits Canada? Comment down below!

Before Camp Widow San Diego this year, we asked you all to choose 3-5 words to describe your widowed experience. Thank you all for sharing!

Now, we need your input post-camp! Please take a few minutes to fill out the post-camp survey. If you attended Camp Widow San Diego 2024, you can find the link in your email.

Your insight will be vital to improving our program and helping us to offer the best possible experience at future Camp Widow events. We very much appreciate your time and effort in answering these questions. Thank you!