About Camp Erin® Albany
One in 12 children in the US will experience the death of a parent or sibling by age 18.
To support these youth, Community Hospice partners with the Eluna Network to offer Camp Erin® Albany
for youth and families at no cost to participants.
Youth Camp
Camp Erin® Albany youth camp is a free, overnight bereavement camp for youth who are grieving the death of a significant person in their lives. Children and teens ages 7 to 17 attend a weekend camp experience that combines grief education and emotional support with fun, traditional camp activities. Led by bereavement professionals and caring volunteers, campers are provided a safe environment to explore their grief, learn essential coping skills, and make friends with peers who are also grieving.
When is Camp?
Friday, September 20th - Sunday, September 22nd, 2024
Where is Camp?
Camp Erin® Albany is located in Speculator, NY.
Who can attend Camp?
Children and teens ages 7-17 (grades 2-12) that have experienced the loss of a significant person in their lives and have not previously attended a Camp Erin® overnight program.
What happens at Camp?
Canoeing, hiking, s’mores, star gazing, meeting peers with similar experiences, creating a memory board, sharing stories, candle lighting and luminary ceremony, and lots of fun!
Does Community Hospice provide transportation?
Yes! We transport all campers to and from camp from a central location in Albany.
How are participants selected?
A parent or guardian must complete an application and, along with the potential camper(s), attend an in-person interview with Community Hospice staff. All participants are screened to determine camper appropriateness and readiness for this specialized camp.
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Who leads Camp?
Grief professionals and trained volunteers from Community Hospice oversee all aspects of Camp Erin® Albany youth camp. We also have two Registered Nurses who oversee all medical needs while at camp.
How do we apply?
Click here to download the application. Once completed, please send the application to Tiffany Smith via mail (445 New Karner Road, Albany, NY 12203), email (tiffany.m.smith@sphp.com) or fax (518-724-0299). In addition, you may also click here to schedule an in-person interview during our Open House events. For any questions, please call Tiffany at 518-724-0272.
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Family Camp
Camp Erin® Albany family camp is a free, bereavement day camp for families who are grieving the death of a significant person in their lives. Families attend a camp experience that combines grief education and emotional support with fun, traditional camp activities. Led by bereavement professionals and caring volunteers, campers and families are provided a safe environment to explore their grief, learn essential coping skills, and make friends with peers who are also grieving.
When is Camp?
November 2024
Where is Camp?
First Reformed Church of Scotia - 224 N Balston Ave. Scotia, NY 12302
Who can attend?
Any families with children under the age of 18 that are grieving the loss of a significant person in their lives.
What happens at Camp?
Families are able to process their grief individually and as a family unit. This is done through expressive arts activities, sharing meals, specialized grief activities, and lots of fun!
How are participants selected?
A parent or guardian must complete an application and, along with the potential camper(s), attend an in-person interview with Community Hospice staff. All participants are screened to determine camper appropriateness and readiness for this specialized camp.
Who leads Camp?
Grief professionals and trained volunteers from Community Hospice oversee all aspects of Camp Erin® Albany family camp. We also have two Registered Nurses who oversee all medical needs while at camp.
How do we apply?
Click here to download the application. Once completed, please send the application to Tiffany Smith via mail (445 New Karner Road, Albany, NY 12203), email (tiffany.m.smith@sphp.com) or fax (518-724-0299). For any questions, please call Tiffany at 518-724-0272.
Who can volunteer?
Anyone over the age of 18 that enjoys spending time with children, teens and families! Being part of the Camp Erin® Albany team is incredibly rewarding and is also physically demanding. Volunteers should be in good physical health, able to walk on uneven terrain, and be comfortable sleeping in a cabin with other adults and campers (youth overnight camp only). Volunteers must be fully vaccinated against the flu and covid-19. Parents and guardians often ask about volunteering when their child(ren) attend youth camp. For a variety of reasons, it is our policy that family members not volunteer at the same time that members of their family attend as campers. We would be happy to discuss this with you if you have questions.
What do volunteers do?
Volunteers are able to help with various stages of planning and implementation of Camp Erin® Albany programs. Volunteers assignments include: mailings, data entry, administrative work, parking assistant, cabin buddy, photographer, activity assistant, RN/MD, grief counselor, and many more. If you are interested in volunteering with our camp program, we can find a job for you!
What training do volunteers receive?
Volunteers receive training on childhood grief, trauma, expressive arts, teambuilding activities, and communication.
How do I apply?
Please click here to complete our online application. Once completed, you will be contacted about scheduling an interview. Volunteers selected to attend camp are required to complete a background check, attend mandatory training, and attend a pre-camp event. For any questions, please contact Tiffany at 518-724-0272 or tiffany.m.smith@sphp.com.
About Eluna
About Eluna
What is Camp Erin®?
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Camp Erin® is the largest national bereavement program for youth who are grieving the death of a significant person in their lives. Children and teens ages 7 to 17 attend a weekend camp experience that combines grief education and emotional support with fun, traditional camp activities. Led by bereavement professionals and caring volunteers, campers are provided a safe environment to explore their grief, learn essential coping skills, and make friends with peers who are also grieving. Additional services are offered to support the whole family outside of the camp weekend. Through a network of partnerships with bereavement programs in local communities across the US and Canada, Camp Erin® brings hope and healing to thousands of children and families annually and is offered at no cost to families. For more information, please visit elunanetwork.org.
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What is the Eluna Network?
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Eluna partners with bereavement programs in local communities to help fund, develop and grow Camp Erin® nationwide. For more information, please visit elunanetwork.org.
Eluna is a public, 501(c)(3) non-profit with a mission to support children and families impacted by grief or addiction. Founded in 2000 in Seattle by former MLB pitcher Jamie Moyer and child advocate Karen Phelps Moyer, Eluna was originally called The Moyer Foundation and launched a series of programs supporting thousands of children and families annually at no cost to them. Camp Erin® is the largest national network of grief programs for bereaved children and teens, Camp Mariposa® is a national addiction prevention and mentoring program for youth impacted by a family member's substance use disorder, and the Eluna Resource Center offers online tools, local referrals and personalized phone and email support for families experiencing grief, addiction and other related issues. For more information, please visit elunanetwork.org.
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Looking for important grief resources to help a child, friend or family member in your community or nationwide?
We are proud to share the Eluna Resource Center. Its straightforward design makes it easy to search for articles, videos, activities, and referrals to local programs. In addition, Eluna offers free personalized recommendations with a 24 hour turn around time
Camp Erin Volunteers