Camp Sunrise - A Grief Camp for Kids and Teens

We are delighted to announce the return of our free three-day overnight camp for 2025! This year, Camp Sunrise will be held for children ages 7-12 from June 20th to June 22nd at Suttle Lake Camp. Camp Sunrise will also offer a day-long Teen Grief Retreat, open for teens ages 13-17, on June 21st at Suttle Lake Camp.

Attendees can live anywhere in Central Oregon and do not need to be grieving a loss from the previous year. Attendees may be grieving the loss of a parent, friend, classmate, pet, grandparent, or sibling. Hospice of Redmond does not put limitations on the type of grief a person may be experiencing. 

Camp Sunrise is founded on the understanding that every child and teen deserves the opportunity to grieve in a safe, supportive, and understanding environment. With loving support, children and teens grieving a death can share their experiences with acceptance as they move through the healing process.

The children’s program will have structured games, music, art, stories, and other therapies to teach bereaved campers about grief and how to understand their feelings. The teen program will have some of these elements woven into a mature program with age-specific topics based on teens’ unique needs.

We are pleased to offer our campers support from a professional, trained staff and volunteers.

The camp is open to up to 40 children and teens who reside in Deschutes, Jefferson, and Crook counties and is offered at no charge.

Youth are referred to Camp Sunrise from various sources, including schools, churches, counselors, and organizations/agencies serving youth and families. Hospice counselors interview the children and their caregivers before camp to verify they are appropriate for this camp experience. During the interview, we explain the purpose and premise of the program so families are prepared to participate. We also offer specifically designed educational sessions for parents, providing them with skills to strengthen their understanding of how to be an effective support system for their children. Post-camp support is also offered to the campers’ parents to further enhance the grieving child’s journey to health.

Although everyone has a different way of grieving, no one must go through it alone. We are honored to walk through grief with you.