About Camp Erin
 

Camp Erin is a grief camp designed for children ages 6-17 who have experienced the death of a loved
one. It is a weekend-long experience filled with traditional, fun, camp activities combined with grief
education and emotional support -- facilitated by grief professionals and trained volunteers. The Moyer Foundation partners with local hospice and grief counseling organizations in the communities where the camps exist. Because these organizations are seeing and treating grieving children everyday, they act as the natural registration points for Camp Erins in those communities.

More information about Camp Erin:

Camp Goals:
Camp Erin's primary goal is to provide an environment and activities that will support campers while they are going through the grieving process.  Camp Erin has several specific objectives, each of which plays an important role in the successful implementation of camp. 

The goals of every Camp Erin are to:

  • Provide bereavement education to campers that will help normalize the grief process as one of life’s universal experiences;
  • Decrease the sense of isolation that campers may feel while they are grieving;
  • Provide a framework for campers to work through their grief;
  • Teach coping skills that campers can use during and after camp;
  • Facilitate opportunities for campers to share their experiences;
  • Encourage campers to express their feelings;
  • Allow campers the opportunity to remember, honor, or memorialize those who have died; and
  • Create a sense of community among campers, volunteers and staff.

CAMP QUOTES

“Camp Erin is really special because all the kids there have lost a loved one.  My terrific mom, Victoria, died from cancer when I was six and it’s been really hard for me.  At camp, you get to play, cry, laugh, and feel better.  At Camp Erin, I learned there’s lots of kids with broken hearts who need help and that lots of people out there care about these kids. I learned to help other sad kids and someday I’m going to be a counselor at Camp Erin.”

Tristana Leist, Camper
Age 10

 

“After my mom died I felt lost and alone, scared and depressed. I kept it all inside and felt like I was going to explode.  I couldn’t talk to family because they were too upset and I knew none of my friends would understand. When I went to Camp Erin it was such a relief. All of a sudden I felt like people knew what I was talking about. I finally started to let my emotions out and realized it was ok to fell the way I did. The camp, the friends I met and the staff really changed my life.”

Phillip Bruhan, Camper
Age 16

 

"I was devastated, and it was a struggle sometimes for me to get my two brokenhearted children dressed and ready for school, but after the camp the kids started laughing again and we were able to have fun again, and that really helped me deal with my own heart.”

Karl Leist, Camp Erin Parent

 

“It is the Foundation’s goal to have Camp Erins throughout the United States. Now seemed like the perfect time to make this commitment to the children of Philadelphia. I am thrilled to be playing for the Phillies in my home state and being able to give back to this community through Camp Erin is a dream come true. I have had the opportunity to visit many Camp Erins and I have seen, first hand, how this camp impacts children’s lives by being around others going through similar situations.” 

Karen and Jamie Moyer, All Star pitcher and Co-founders of The Moyer Foundation.