Camp Widow Chicago
Saturday
Registration (8:00 AM - 9:00 AM)
General Session (9:00 AM - 9:30 AM)
Join Soaring Spirits International’s Founder and CEO, Michele Neff Hernandez, for opening remarks. Read More
Track Introduction Session (9:45 AM - 10:45 AM)
Our Newly Widowed workshop track has been designed for widowed people whose widowhood began within the past twelve months. The content for this introduction to the Newly Widowed track is based on research done through the Soaring Spirits Resilience Center and will focus on a combination of providing campers with tools and resources designed to […] Read More
Our Recently Widowed workshop track has been designed for widowed people who were widowed anywhere from one to three years ago. The content for this introduction to the Recently Widowed track is based on research done through the Soaring Spirits Resilience Center and will focus on a combination of providing campers with tools and resources designed […] Read More
The Middle Widowed track is designed to meet the needs of people widowed between three and five years. These middle widowhood years are a time of searching, rebuilding, getting to know this new self within the widowed experience. The content for this introduction to the Middle Widowed track is based on research done through the […] Read More
There are many common misconceptions about the length of time widowed people will need the support of their community. As widowed people continue the work of building new lives, their need for access to and connection with their widowed community evolves and the topics they need to discuss change. The content developed for this introduction […] Read More
Block 1 of Workshops (11:00 AM - 12:00 PM)
When you’ve been widowed, it’s easy to feel like you’re going crazy. You feel like you aren’t “yourself”, you don’t understand what is happening to you, and many of those around you don’t either. Read More
We will discuss the ROADMAP to Resilience and how to bounce back after the loss of your spouse and other tremendous trauma associated to life-altering changes so you can start to regain control of life. Read More
Writing, Photography, Art, and Dance are all tools that each of us can use to get our thoughts and emotions out and validate what’s in our hearts. Whether you share your creations with others or keep them to yourself, the act of creative expression can be a path to healing and moving forward in your […] Read More
The Building Your Financial Future workshop helps attendees create plans to build assets for a solid financial future, tailored to the widowed experience. This training: Defines and explains assets, liabilities, equity, net worth, and their relationship to each other Discusses categories of assets: financial, physical, and productive Explains how specific assets, and asset-building in general, […] Read More
Lunch (12:00 PM - 1:30 PM)
We Have a Widowed Person For That is an optional event during lunch to come together in community to make quick connections with other widowed people who may have a similar experience- either in type of death, life experience or family situation. You may go from one table to another if you’d like to meet […] Read More
Block 2 of Workshops (1:30 PM - 2:30 PM)
We all have many identities, some we like and some we don’t and now we have to wear this new identity of widow(er). Many of us don’t know what its supposed to look like. How do we move past our imposed or chosen identities and get back to who we are?! We will discuss that […] Read More
Create Bad A** Boundaries! Become a Master Boundary Maker Unlock yourself from the confines of energy depleting conflict, guilt, and the ‘shoulds’ within your most challenging relationships! Create freedom, ease, personal space and deep self-care possibilities by becoming a master boundary maker inside your grieving and healing journey. In this workshop, Jim will use a […] Read More
Author, writer, and widow Melissa Gould will guide participants in a healing writing workshop that explores the unexpected realities of widowhood. Designed to enhance acceptance and exploration of what it means to be widowed, this workshop considers that we are not living the life we were expecting due to the loss of our person. Through […] Read More
The death of a partner from addiction or suicide brings unique challenges, complex emotions and circumstances, and difficult responses from society. This combined workshop offers a private and supportive space for widowed people navigating these distinct but often interconnected experiences. Together, we will explore the ways addiction and suicide impact grief, provide psycho-educational tools to […] Read More
Track Wrap Up Sessions (2:45 PM - 3:15 PM)
Please join your Newly Widowed community for a discussion of the days’ offerings from the point of view of those who are widowed less than one year. We will also be providing information on how you can stay connected with your widowed community through Soaring Spirits’ programs. Read More
Please join your Recently Widowed community for a discussion of the days’ offerings from the point of view of those who are widowed from one to three years. We will also be providing information on how you can stay connected with your widowed community through Soaring Spirits’ programs. Read More
Please join your Middle Widowed Community for a discussion of the days’ offerings and to reconnect around the joys and challenges of being widowed three to five years. We will also be providing information on how you can stay connected with your widowed community through Soaring Spirits’ programs. Read More
Please join your Seasoned Widowed Community for a discussion of the days’ offerings and to reconnect around the joys and challenges of being widowed five years or more. We will also be providing information on how you can stay connected with your widowed community through Soaring Spirits’ programs. Read More
Memorial Activity/Closing Remarks (3:30 PM - 4:30 PM)
Connecting with other widowed people is one of the most important aspects of Camp Widow®. Gather with the widowed campers you met earlier in the day to discuss key takeaways and the opportunity to share contact information. Read More