We’ll offer the photos on the website as proof. We laugh, we share dark humor, we allow space for lightness and a break from the reality of being in charge of all the responsibilities that were once shared. Of course there are emotional moments when we talk about our loss which are both healing and natural, but the focus of Camp Widow® is on what lies ahead in our lives. One of our favorite quotes about this weekend has been repeated after every camp, without exception, by several different campers…“I laughed so hard my cheeks hurt.”

We also want to point out that sitting and crying is welcome here, too. At Camp Widow we accept you right where you are today. Grieving the death of someone we love is both a unique and also universal experience. What we've found is that while we each process and grow through our grief experience in our own way, doing so in the company of other widowed people provides understanding, perspective and encouragement that makes the weight of grief a bit easier to carry.

Standard registration: $700
Includes all programming and events for our weekend long camps. If you have the financial means to join us at this rate, we would be grateful for you to do so.

Organization Subsidized registration: $399
Provides the same as the standard registration, just at a decreased cost for anyone who would benefit from a different cost point.

One-day Registration: $200
This rate offers one full day of programming and the social event and dinner occurring on the chosen day.

Camp Widow Pop-Up: $50
Includes one-day program and lunch at any of our Pop-up locations.
*Price subject to change by location and optional activities may be offered outside the regular program that include additional fees.

• Friday: Access to a full day of workshops, discussions, and intensive seminars
• Coffee service at registration
• One ticket to the Friday evening Welcome Reception
• Saturday: Morning coffee and breakfast snacks
• Saturday: Keynote address
• Saturday: Access to a full day of workshops, discussions, and intensive seminars
• One ticket to the Soaring Spirits Semi-Formal Award Banquet
• Sunday: One paid registration to the Widow Dash 5K Run/Walk in Tampa, FL or San Diego, CA (registration applies to campers only)
• One ticket to our farewell breakfast buffet
• Camper welcome bag
• Unique camp memento

*Travel and accommodations are not included in the registration fee

YES, many widowed people come to camp having never met anyone else who is attending. Throughout the weekend, we will provide you with several opportunities for meeting other people both individually and in small groups. We also have a team of widowed ambassadors whose focus is helping our new campers feel welcome and facilitating the connections for which Camp Widow is known.

Please be sure to join us for our opening general session and the first workshop of the day where you will definitely meet other campers, many of whom are attending alone as well. We promise that you won't be the only person attending solo! By taking the risk and joining us for this program you will meet people who get you, and very likely make friendships that will last a lifetime.

The age range of campers is generally between 21 and 87 and the average age of our campers is 47. There is a liberal sprinkling of campers from all age ranges, and through the time spent at camp we come to discover how very much we have in common, regardless of our chronological age.

Absolutely. The Camp Widow program is designed for anyone who has lost a life partner regardless of gender, age, religious background, sexual orientation, married or not married, and for those who have remarried as well. We’ve all lived through the death of a spouse or partner, and the energy created by this unique bond is incredible. There are definitely more women than men at camp, but our widowers form powerful bonds during the camp program and often comment upon the unique understanding they experience at Camp Widow.

Currently, we hold Camp Widow® in two US locations and one International location. In response to the requests we've received for us to hold events in different locations, we've added our one day Camp Widow Pop-up events. These one day programs will be held in different locations each year, so please check back or sign up for our newsletter to receive updated information regarding new camp locations.

Our plan is to hold one population specific Camp Widow Pop-up per year, one pop-up event in a new International location and one pop-up event at a new US destination. We look forward to sharing this unique program with widowed people around the world.

No. In fact, each year we count on the generosity of our donors, our volunteer speakers, and both our onsite and year-round volunteer team to make hosting Camp Widow® financially possible. Our dream is to make Camp Widow® a very low cost program, and to that end we are actively seeking reputable corporate sponsorships for subsidizing our camp events. If you, your company, or someone in your circle would be interested in supporting the life-changing work of the Camp Widow® program, we’d love to talk!

The Marriott Hotel chain has been a phenomenal partner in the planning of our Camp Widow® weekends. This level of hotel allows us all the planning tools we need, and has the space available to accommodate not only a block of hotel rooms, but also the numerous break out rooms our event requires. The Marriott has an exceptional record of customer service, and allows our campers a get-away that pampers them in body, while the weekend energy feeds their souls.

When you are widowed, forgetting how to have fun is a common experience. Rarely do we have an opportunity to dance, laugh, and enjoy the company of friends, in a judgment-free, safe environment. The Soaring Spirits banquet at Camp Widow® creates an atmosphere where celebrating how far we’ve each come through this widowed experience, honoring the love we have for our late spouses and partners, as well as reveling in the friendships we’ve made over this unique weekend is encouraged. Many of our campers have rediscovered their desire to live on the dance floor at Camp Widow®.

Attendance at the Soaring Spirits’ banquet is optional, but encouraged. As odd as a group of dancing widowed people may sound to the outside world, at camp we dance to honor our loves, and to celebrate the hard, healing work we’ve each done over just 48 hours.

The banquet is a semi-formal or formal event (depending on location) because many widowed people don’t have the chance to dress up after the death of their partner. That said, we want you to feel comfortable and welcome. So, wear something that makes you feel good. You are welcome to celebrate with us no matter what you wear!

We also offer a space in our self-care room for taking a break from the banquet. You can attend the dinner and memorial activity portion of the evening and then enjoy the activities of the self-care room during the dancing portion if a quieter atmosphere is a better fit for you.

Yes! Thanks to the generosity of our donors, Soaring Spirits is able to offer discounted or cost-free registration to every widowed person who applies for one of our camp scholarships, known as camperships.

Camperships cover the cost of camp registration, and in some cases a portion of hotel costs. At this time we are unable to offer financial assistance for travel costs.

If you'd like to apply for a campership, please see the location page for the camp you'd like to attend.
You will find a campership request link that applies to each of our six locations.