When a child experiences death, especially of someone they love, life changes in ways that are difficult to explain and even harder to navigate emotionally.
For many children, grief can feel confusing, lonely, and overwhelming. While adults often have established ways to process loss, children are still learning how to understand and express complex emotions. Without support, grief can affect everything from school performance and friendships to emotional and physical wellbeing.
That’s why, five years ago in 2021, Camp Courage was created by the Buhl Regional Health Foundation (BRHF).
“When we first began talking about Camp Courage, the question was simple: What support exists for grieving children outside of individual counseling? At the time, there really wasn’t anything like this in our community. That conversation led to formative partnerships with The Highmark Caring Place, Baker Professional Counseling, Community Counseling Center, and so many others who shared the same vision and have joined us over the years” said Kateri Linn, BRHF, Director of Programming.
What began as a vision to provide children with a safe place to grieve has grown into a cherished annual tradition, bringing together local organizations, camp counselors, educators, licensed therapists, volunteers, and community partners with one shared purpose: helping children discover that healing doesn’t have to happen alone.
Held each summer at Buhl Park, in the heart of Pennsylvania’s Shenango Valley, Camp Courage is a free, weeklong grief camp for children who have experienced the death of a loved one. Through art, music, nature, movement, animal-assisted activities, games, and age-appropriate therapeutic modalities, campers are given healthy ways to express their emotions while building resilience, confidence, and lifelong coping skills.
“Camp Courage is a week-long summer program for grieving children that teaches skills, provides tools and support for navigating the emotions that come with the loss of a loved one,” said camp counselor Abbey Barron. “The camp involves a mix of grief support and fun activities that teach teamwork, coping skills, communication skills, and more. Most importantly, it provides children with a community and a safe place to process their grief.” 
Above all, they meet other kids who understand. For many campers, it’s the first time they’ve realized they aren’t the only one carrying the weight of loss. Friendships form naturally, conversations become easier, and children begin to see that while grief may always be part of their story, it doesn’t have to define it.
Barron recalls one camper who arrived on the first day of last year’s camp quiet and withdrawn. As the week progressed, she watched him become more comfortable with his peers, eagerly participate in activities, and even begin encouraging other campers. “His resilience left a significant impact on my outlook on life,” she said.
Kateri Linn weighed in on the impact that Camp Courage’s atmosphere of belonging has on the campers as well. “One of my earliest memories from camp is hearing one young camper quietly say, ‘Well…my dad died.’ Another child looked at him, paused, and replied, ‘Mine too.’ They were only in kindergarten and first grade, but in that moment they realized they weren’t alone. That’s what Camp Courage is all about,”
There is no timeline for grief, and there is no single “right” way to heal. Camp Courage isn’t about fixing grief — it’s about giving children the tools, support, and encouragement they need to move forward while honoring the people they love.
The need is real. Research conducted from 2020-2024 by Judi’s House/JAG Foundation, in partnership with New York Life, shows that one in eleven children will experience the death of a parent or sibling before graduating from high school, and many more will lose grandparents, relatives, friends, or other significant people in their lives. Those experiences can shape a child’s social and emotional well-being for years to come, making access to compassionate grief support more important than ever.
Kateri Linn added, “As both a mom and a professional in this field, I feel incredibly grateful to know our community now has a place where children and families can find support after loss. Camp Courage is a true collaboration in every sense of the word. Every partner, volunteer, counselor, and organization comes together with one shared purpose—to help children heal. Five years later, we’re still learning, growing, and finding new ways to make that support even stronger.”
Now celebrating its fifth year, Camp Courage continues to reflect what can happen when a community comes together around its youngest members. It is made possible through the collaboration of Buhl Regional Health Foundation, Community Counseling Center of Mercer County, The Highmark Caring Place, Buhl Park, Baker Professional Counseling, Mercer County Behavioral Health Commission, local school districts, and dozens of volunteers, activity leaders, and professionals who generously share their time and talents. 
Each year, they create something much greater than a summer camp. They create a place where children feel safe to laugh, cry, remember, and simply be kids again.
While Camp Courage is designed to support children through grief, many volunteers say they leave having learned just as much from the grief support training they receive and from the campers themselves.
“I interacted with the most resilient, strong, and courageous children I have ever met,” Barron said. “I learned from their life experiences and have a better understanding of what it is like to go through the grieving process as a child.”
As another Camp Courage comes to a close, we’re grateful for every partner, volunteer, donor, counselor, and family who has helped make these first five years possible. Together, we’ve built more than a summer camp. We’ve created a place where children can grieve openly, heal at their own pace, and discover that hope can exist alongside loss.