Many children who attend grief camps are nervous or hesitant before they get there. It is common, and it makes sense too. Facing your grief head-on is a scary thing for children to do, for anybody really. Also, many grief supports aren’t exactly fun or engaging for young people. But grief camps are different. Most kids have so much fun at these camps that they ask to come back the next year! One lovely little grief camper from Camp Firefly 2021 referred to her grief camp experience as: "better than my birthday and Christmas combined!". These types of reactions are pretty incredible for a program that asks youth to work through their most painful feelings. But grief camps are just sort of magical that way. And it’s because kids are are growing emotionally AND having fun all at the same time. So as caregivers, all you need to do is encourage your child to build up the courage to attend Camp Firefly. And we promise you, they will be thankful that you did.

It also might help to show your child the Camp Firefly video on our home page. That video was created specifically to be engaging and show kids, families, and organizations what Camp Firefly is all about.

To struggle is to be human. Especially around death and loss. That's the whole point of this camp.

At Camp Firefly, we are honoured when our grief campers show us their vulnerabilities and release their painful thoughts and feelings. And grief camps are the safest space to do it. Many of our grief campers will struggle in this way, or other ways, and that's more than okay with us! In fact, our Camp Firefly staff all do as well. To us: it's considered an act of bravery to share your emotions with others. Even emotions or behaviours that society often labels "difficult".

Camp Firefly will make sure that we have the right supports in place once we have our full camper list finalized. Medications and treatments can be administered on site if ,needed and there will always be quiet and safe places for our grief campers to retreat to - if they are feeling overwhelmed. In many ways, our grief campers will dictate how they want their grief camp experience to go. We follow their lead, and we will help them feel safe.

Furthermore, we know that many of our grief campers have helpful support workers in their communities: action therapists, respite workers, etc. We encourage our grief campers to bring their workers along with them, if they're okay with it! Camp Firefly 2021 hosted four or five support workers alongside our twenty grief campers, and it made the weekend that much more special and smooth for everyone involved. Support workers can attend the grief camp at no cost to themselves or the families they support. We are always very grateful when they come along.

Yes, most of the Camp Manitou grounds are extremely accessible. Even by wheelchair. Some off-path sections of Camp Manitou may be slightly difficult for some, but most parts are fully accessible.

Furthermore, Camp Manitou just opened up Manitoba's first ever wheelchair accessible dock for canoeing and kayaking!

Camp Manitou prides itself on its accessibility, as does Camp Firefly, and we will work with all caregivers to make sure that all of our grief campers get the very best experience.

Camp firefly is generally created for children aged 5-17, though exceptions can sometimes be made for other ages. Please reach out if you have a specific question regarding age or availability.

Yes, Camp Firefly 2025 will be an overnight camp. It will run Saturday September 20th to Sunday September 21st.

However, we are always adaptable to the wants and needs of our grief campers. If some kids feel more comfortable sleeping at home Saturday night, and coming back Sunday morning, we will happily facilitate that. We will always help our grief campers to be the most comfortable they can be.

Traditional Camp Activities

• Zip-line
• Wall Climbing
• High Ropes
• Swimming
• Canoeing and Kayaking
• Bonfires
• Lawn Games
• Basketball
• Floor Hockey
• Dance Party

Grief Therapy Activities

• Animal Therapy
• Memory Frames
• Memory Pillows
• Candlelit Ceremony
• Music Therapy
• Grief Candle Making
• Letter Writing to Those Who Have Died
• Journaling
• Breathing Exercises
• Grief Scavenger Hunt

*** Not all activities are offered each year. And children can choose alternative activities if they aren’t comfortable doing any of the activities offered throughout the weekend. ***

Absolutely nothing.

Camp Firefly is offered at no cost to grief campers or their families/caregivers. Camp fees will be covered in full, through external fundraising efforts and charitable grants.

It is important to us at Camp Firefly that our grief campers receive the best possible grief supports, without their families and caregivers worrying about how to pay for it.