Children's Grief Support Services 

Camp Erin Montgomery is a FREE, weekend bereavement camp for youth who are grieving the death of a significant person in their lives. Children and teens ages 6 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.

Camp Erin Montgomery 2021 will be held as a virtual event. 

Who? 

Camp Erin is for children and teens ages 6-17, grieving the death of someone close to them. This opportunity is for those who have not attended a previous session of Camp Erin.

What? 

The program will kick off with a drive-by welcome event at the CaringMatters Cottage, in Gaithersburg, Maryland, where campers can pick up their supplies, provided free of charge, and meet some of the camp staff and volunteers.  

Campers will participate in online Zoom sessions with the following objectives:​

• Build Community

• Tell one's story

• Learn coping skills

• Express and process grief

• Remember and honor those who died

• Have fun!
   

When? 

Friday, May 21 - Sunday, May 23, 2021

Online sessions will start the afternoon of Friday, May 21 and continue with sessions on Saturday, May 22 and Sunday, May 23, 2021 with frequent breaks built into the schedule. Times to be announced soon.

Where? 

Due to health and safety concerns, Camp Erin will take place online on Zoom from home; materials, provided free of charge, can be picked up at Bar-T in Laytonsville, Maryland, during the drive-by welcome event. If campers are unable to pick up materials during the welcome event, alternative arrangements can be made.
 

Why? 

Camp Erin allows youth to: 

• Tell their story in a safe environment

• Process grief in healthy ways

• Meet friends facing similar circumstances

• Learn they are not alone

• Build a tool-box of coping skills

• Honor and memorialize loved ones

• Have fun!
   

How? 

Camp Erin Montgomery County, offered free of charge, was created and is supported in part by Eluna, 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.

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Register: To apply to attend Camp Erin, download and submit our camper application.

Contact Penny Gladhill, pennyg@caringmatters.org or call 301-990-0852 with any questions about Camp Erin.

Application Deadline: Friday, May 7, 2021, 3:00pm

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Sí su familia necesita ayuda para completer la aplicación, comuniquese con Maria J. Alvarez a su correo electronico; mariaja@caringmatters.org para poder ayudarle.

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Thank you to our major Camp Erin sponsors:

Bar - T, Inc.
The Eluna Network

The George Preston Marshall Foundation

The Dick and Jody Vilardo Foundation

 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.

Camp Erin Montgomery 2019 

Thank you to our talented volunteer photographers, Audrey Rothstein and Jim Griffin, for documenting the magic, the impact and  the healing spirit of Camp Erin!

Camp Erin Montgomery 2018

Video by Montgomery County Council Television

Camp Erin Montgomery 2018 Photo Montage

Thank you to our volunteer photographers,

Audrey Rothstein, Joe Richardson, Marvin Sirkis and Tomy Pinto,

for capturing the magic of Camp Erin 2018!