News
Grief in the Summer: Camps for Kids
By Liz Falstreau, Community Education and Advocacy Manager
June 3, 2026
Grief hits families differently in the summertime. Suddenly school is out and with it the free resources it provides for those who may not be able to afford support outside of school hours. The added nature of summer being a time of rest and fun can also put pressure on kids and caregivers to mask the feelings that come with loss. These realities do not simply vanish because the sun is out. In fact, they can be even tougher to navigate in the summer. Caregivers have the added task of figuring out how their children will be cared for while they work. Many kids must work more in the summer to make ends meet for their families when they have lost a caregiver and breadwinner to death, illness, divorce, deportation, incarceration, or even abandonment.
Finding the Time to Find Resources Can Feel Impossible.
To ease the search for caregivers who are looking for free and affordable summer resources for their kids, we have put together a list of grief summer camps and resources for kids and caregivers to continue their healing through the season.
Chicagoland Camps
Camp Kesem– “Camp Kesem is a free, overnight summer camp for children ages 6-18 who are coping with a parent’s cancer.”
Comfort Zone Camp– “From weekend overnight camps to virtual support groups, we’re here to help young adults, parents and families heal from all types of losses. All programs are free.”
Camp Erin & Camp Willow– “Free for all families, Camp Erin combines traditional, fun camp activities with grief education and emotional support for children and teens ages 6 to 17 years old.”
Hearts to Arts– “An annual fine arts summer camp designed for young people 7-14 years old who have experienced the death of one or more parents.”
Camp Sheilah– “Camp Sheilah, an annual bereavement camp founded by the Sheilah A. Doyle Foundation in 2011, helps children ages 7-17 whose parent, legal guardian or sibling have been victims of homicide on their healing journey.”
Nationwide Camps
Experience Camps– “A national, no-cost program for grieving children who have experienced the death of a parent, sibling or primary caregiver.”
Not in Illinois or Chicago?
That’s okay! Many of these camps have resources and virtual options for families nationwide to participate in the grief support programing that they have to offer. Rainbows also hosts virtual groups. If you are interested, reach out to info@rainbows.org or call our headquarters at 847-952-1770 for more information.
Don’t want to participate virtually?
A quick Google search of “grief camps for kids near me,” and a quick scroll past the AI generated answer, as they can contain misinformation, may also provide you with more resources relevant to your area of the world. Or better yet, have you considered starting a Rainbows Peer Support group? Check out how to Become a Facilitator or check out our Find a Group page to see what resources are in your area.
Whatever your family’s situation may be, there are organizations and resources out there that want to lift you and your family up and support your journey with grief and loss. They are just out there waiting to be found.
