One of BRHF’s standout initiatives is the Youth Grief Support Program, which includes specialized offerings like Camp Courage and Ninja Courage. These programs are designed to help children and teenagers navigate the heavy burden of loss in a way that feels natural to them.
The Courage programs are designed to help children and teenagers (grades 7–12) navigate the heavy burden of loss in a way that feels natural to them. Recognizing that young people often find it easier to “move” than to “talk,” programs like Camp Courage combine professional counseling with creative and physical activities, an introduction to coping mechanisms, and a supportive community made up of professionals, volunteers, artists, educators and fellow campers.
At BRHF, we recognize that access to mental health services, especially during critical development periods, is one of the 7 vital conditions of a thriving community, Our Courage programs were created to address the critical shortage of youth grief support programs in the region. Camp Courage is entering its fifth year in 2026.
We asked the campers’ caregivers for their thoughts on the camp and how it’s making an impact. Kelly Haux is the grandparent, and caretaker, of one of our camper’s, Addie. This is Kelly Haux’s story:
Kelly Haux: Camp Courage Grandparent/Caregiver
What does Camp Courage mean to you and how has it impacted your lives?
Camp Courage has had a tremendous impact on my granddaughter Addie and our family. Addie’s mom died when she was six years old as the result of an overdose after a long battle with a heroin addiction. Addie commented to me once that she didn’t cry at her mom’s funeral. How could she? As a child she didn’t completely understand the full impact her mom’s death would have on her or the grief that would continue to chase her year after year. I told her that her grief would come later, when her mom missed her wedding or at the birth of her first child. I told her that each milestone that her mom missed would cause grief to well up in her, due to the absence. Camp Courage has been a steady companion for Addie to have a place to process the grief that comes as she grows up. Her mom has been gone for five years now and every year she learns a bit more about how to process her grief. Camp Courage is helping to give her the tools to process the grief that will continue to be present as each new stage of life comes. She has learned valuable coping skills, found a network of other kids that have also gone through grief and has been able to process her own grief in a safe, fun environment. As a grandparent, the Camp Courage helps me to feel supported and sets my mind at ease that Addie will have what it takes to face the grief whenever a new wave hits.
How do you describe Camp Courage to someone who has never heard of it?
Camp Courage is a day camp for kids who have experienced grief from the loss of an important person in their life. At the camp they offer resources to kids for processing their grief, giving them valuable coping skills. While normal camp activities are present like swimming, crafts, they participate in other activities which assist them in working through grief. Each camper also has an opportunity to bond with other kids their age who have also gone through a difficult loss. The camp leaders work alongside them and offer a listening ear, kindness, and emotional support to make them feel safe enough to share the emotions that are going on inside of them. Camp Courage shows them they are not alone in their grief journey and that other kids have had similar experiences. They also create tangible activities to keep their loved one’s memory alive with memory boxes to store mementos. It is truly an unforgettable week that deeply impacts every child who attends.
Do you have a brief personal story that illustrates Camp Courage’s value for you and your camper(s)?
The first year that my granddaughter Addie attended Camp Courage, she came home and began to tell me about her day. The biggest takeaway that she had was that other kids her age had also lost a parent due to a drug overdose. She told me that it made her not feel so alone in her grief to know that other kids have also gone through the same thing. Former U.S. Surgeon General and Physician Vivek Murthy has stated that the United States is going through a “loneliness epidemic”. In an interview he said, “Building community is one of the most important things we can do for our health and wellbeing.” Camp Courage has given Addie that community, and because of her experiences there she feels much less alone in her grief journey than she used to. Knowing that you are not alone in a difficult circumstance can make all the difference in the world. Camp Courage provided that for Addie and because of that, I am forever grateful.
Why do you value the Buhl Regional Health Foundation?
As your neighbor, I value the Buhl Regional Health Foundation because they have a vision for providing programs that are not only fun, but go deeper, beyond the surface level. They go beyond that and provide programs that truly make an impact on the people who attend. Their vision for holistic health programs for the people they serve is truly life changing. I am forever grateful to Buhl Regional Health Foundation for the impact they have had on my family through Camp Courage.
