Camp Widow NYC LGBTQ+
Saturday
Registration (8:00 AM - 9:00 AM)
General Session (9:00am - 9:30am)
Join Soaring Spirits International’s Founder and CEO, Michele Neff Hernandez, for opening remarks. Read More
Track Introduction Session (9:45am - 10:45am)
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
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
Our Ally workshop track has been designed for non-widowed support people attending Camp Widow alongside someone who is widowed. The content for this introduction to the Ally track is focused on providing insight, tools, and resources to help allies better understand and support their widowed person, while also acknowledging their own experience in a supporting […] Read More
Block 1 of Workshops (11:00am - 12:00pm)
You didn’t just lose your partner. You lost your backup person, your plus one, and the person who shared your love of old movies, mowed the lawn, drove at night, and could feed the dog if you were running late. In this workshop you will learn how to identify your secondary losses, develop coping strategies […] Read More
Grief has a way of opening us to experiences we may never have expected. Many widowed people describe moments that feel deeply meaningful—unexpected connections, powerful dreams, unexplainable coincidences, or a renewed sense of their loved one’s presence. This workshop isn’t about asking anyone to adopt a particular belief system. Instead, it offers a welcoming space […] Read More
Grief can be profoundly isolating, and LGBTQ+ widowed people often face an additional challenge: finding support where their relationships, identities, and experiences are fully understood and affirmed. Traditional bereavement groups may not reflect the realities of queer partnerships, chosen family, disenfranchised grief, or the complicated relationships some have with family and community. This interactive session […] 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
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
This workshop offers a space for honest, thoughtful conversation for those supporting someone who is widowed. Whether you are dating, partnered with, or a family member of a widowed person, this session invites you into real talk about the unique dynamics that can arise in these relationships. Read More
Lunch (12:00pm - 1:15pm)
Block 2 of Workshops (1:30pm - 2:30pm)
Grief (and its often-present cousin, trauma) can leave us searching for words and often exhausted by trying to explain our experience. In this hands-on workshop, we’ll create a simple mini-zine: a tiny folded booklet that can become a private reflection, a way to track your own journey, or something you choose to share with family […] Read More
To bridge the gap between who you were and who you are becoming. This interactive session is designed to shift the perspective from “forced reinvention” to “intentional self-discovery.” By looking at how we’ve survived transitions in the past, we will unlock practical, hopeful ways to get to know ourselves again and step forward into a new chapter. Read More
Widowhood is relentless and inescapable. Grief can be all consuming, or sneaky. No matter when it strikes, we can seize the Captain’s Wheel and take the moment back! When the phone call from the Sheriff shattered my world in May 2018, I was plunged into widowhood. I felt like I was crawling on endless glass. […] Read More
Moderator:Dr. Nancy Saltzman & Greg Roman
Can you imagine yourself on a date? Do you even want to start dating again? What will your family and friends say when you decide to start dating again? Does it matter? Read More
Track Wrap Up Sessions (2:45pm - 3:45pm)
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
Please join your Ally community for a conversation reflecting on the day’s workshops from the perspective of those supporting someone who is widowed. This session offers an opportunity to share insights, ask lingering questions, and connect with others who understand the unique role of being an ally. Read More
Memorial Activity/Closing Remarks (4:00pm - 4:30pm)
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