Helping children and youth to make sense of their grief, through healing camp experiences.
Why Camp Firefly?
Come join us for a weekend and discover the transformative power of “grief camps”. It is free to attend for all grief campers.
Camp Firefly mixes summer camp adventures with grief-therapy activities. We create a safe and engaging space for children and youth who are grieving. This allows them to: grieve the deaths and losses of their loved ones, connect with other kids experiencing the same painful feelings as they are, and begin learning how to process those feelings in healthy ways. Our camp is creative, young at heart, and a lot of fun too. The fun is a big part of what makes the emotional growth possible.
* Please watch our video below for a visual introduction to Camp Firefly *
The Last Camp Firefly
Camp Firefly 2024 was a special experience. Held at Camp Manitou once again, we supported 40 grieving youth from all different cultures, communities, and upbringings. Our grief campers were grieving many different types of deaths, and they did it all together. Using activities like “memory frames” and “memory pillows”, and bravely completing the “final grief ceremony” at the end, each one of them made significant emotional growth (on their own sliding scales of course).
They also seemed to have a lot of fun too. We had facepainting and fidget toys, swimming and slip n’ slides, kayaking and ziplining, and cuddles with therapy dogs. They also got to try a bunch of different musical instruments, and dance to a drum circle. Oh what a day it was!
The Next Camp Firefly
This year Camp Firefly will take place on September 20-21, 2025. At “Camp Manitou” (Headingley, MB)
This year we are planning to expand our camp in size and scope. This will allow us to support more grieving youth in Winnipeg and Manitoba. We have some new and exciting activities planned for this year, and we can’t wait to share them with our grief campers. We’re also planning to run it as an overnight camp this time, but there will be transportation options available for those who feel more comfortable sleeping in their own beds. We are always adaptable at Camp Firefly.
Thank you for prioritizing the well-being of your grieving child, and thank you for considering Camp Firefly as a unique way to support them.
Lastly, Camp Firefly is always free for those who attend. So please fill out an application to apply on behalf of a child in your life, or send us an email if you have any questions. We look forward to hearing from you.
Donate to Camp Firefly
Your donation could help send a child to grief camp.
Camp Firefly is now proudly registered as a not-for-profit charitable organization with the CRA. This means that when you make a donation to Camp Firefly, you can claim some of that money back when you file your taxes each year. And to keep it simple and seamless, we will email you a tax receipt immediately after you donate.
Your donation will help change the lives of grieving youth in Winnipeg, and we are infinitely grateful for your support. Thank you.