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Camp Widow San Diego

Tracks

Friday

Camp Widow Opening Session (9:00 AM - 10:00 AM)

Michele Neff Hernandez

Camp Widow® Opening Address

Michele Neff Hernandez

Join Soaring Spirits International Founder & CEO, Michele Neff Hernandez, for opening remarks. Read More

Block 1 (10:15am - 11:45am)

Amy Florian
Nick Stentzel
Jenny Sellers

Newly Widowed: Help for the First Year of Widowhood

Amy Florian, Nick Stentzel & Jenny Sellers

Moderator: Jenny Sellers

Our Newly Widowed workshop track has been designed for widowed people whose widowhood began within the past twelve months. Read More

Bobby Moss
Teresa Beshwate

Recently Widowed: Tools and Tips for Healing for Those Widowed One to Three Years

Bobby Moss & Teresa Beshwate

Moderator:Bobby Moss

Our Recently Widowed workshop track has been designed for widowed people who were widowed anywhere from one to three years ago. Read More

John Polo
Markell Morris

Middle Widowed: Hope and Healing for Those Widowed Three to Five Years

John Polo & Markell Morris

Moderator: John Polo

This track is designed to meet the needs of people widowed between three and five years. Read More

Dr. Nancy Saltzman
Aidan Park

Seasoned Widowed: Community Building for People Widowed Five Years and More

Dr. Nancy Saltzman & Aidan Park

Moderator: Dr. Nancy Saltzman

There are many common misconceptions about the length of time widowed people will need the support of their community. Read More

Lunch (11:45am - 1:00pm)

Block 2 (1:00pm - 2:30pm)

Mel Shore & Anita Coyle

Finding Your Footing

Mel Shore & Anita Coyle

“How do I find my footing?” As widowed people, no matter the time after the loss of our partner, we find ourselves faced with what, where, when, why, and how to navigate many aspects of our lives. Join Mel and Anita in this interactive, fun, actionable, and informative session specifically for finding a confident and […] Read More

Teresa Beshwate

Retrain Your Brain: Adapting Your Inner Voice for Healing

Teresa Beshwate

After the unthinkable happens, our normal human brains operate as if in a danger zone, offering us a constant barrage of thoughts. We revisit the events surrounding the loss and analyze it from every angle. We consider how our own actions might have changed the outcome.   It’s easy to dwell on how we could have […] Read More

Alyssa Gavulic
Melissa Gould
Sofia Tannenhaus
John Polo
Sade Aryio

Widowed with Children: A Panel Discussion

Alyssa Gavulic, Melissa Gould, Sofia Tannenhaus, John Polo & Sade Aryio

Moderator: Alyssa Gavulic

Alyssa will be moderating a discussion about the challenging (and sometimes heartwarming) experience of parenting grieving children. She will be joined by a diverse group of widowed panel members who will share their personal parenting experiences addressing a variety of topics and answer questions related to parenting after being widowed.
Read More

Julie Martella

Finding YOU in Your Future: Your Story Isn’t Over

Julie Martella

When your spouse dies, you may think your life is over. The reality is that a new life is waiting for you, and it can be a life of meaning and purpose. Together we will look at how you can create a space in your mind and home to welcome your future. Read More

J'aime Morrison

Mourning Surf: Moving You Through the Waves of Grief

J'aime Morrison

This workshop addresses the physical experience of grief and loss through guided movement and meditation. We will use our imaginations to embody both the undertow – the sorrow of losing a loved one, and the upwell – the swell of emotion and the promise of new energy in our lives. Grief really does come in […] Read More

Aidan Park
Carl Barrett
Nick Stentzel
Grace Villafuerte
Bobby Moss

Finding Your Tribe as an LGBTQ+ Widowed Person

Aidan Park, Carl Barrett, Nick Stentzel, Grace Villafuerte & Bobby Moss

Moderator: Bobby Moss

This workshop gathers our LGBTQ+ Community together to share our experiences as a widowed person in a safe space. Read More

Block 3 (2:45pm - 4:00pm)

Aidan Park

Tools for Wellness During Adverse Times

Aidan Park

Tools for Wellness During Adverse Times, developed and presented by award-winning international keynote speaker, wellness coach, comedian, and bestselling author Aidan Park, offers effective and research-backed strategies in providing support for emotional wellness. Aidan shares his personal story of becoming a widower and provides actionable and proven tools for managing painful emotions that can come […] Read More

Gina Pastore

Can Faith Get You Through Your Grief

Gina Pastore

Join Gina, inspirational speaker, author, and certified Spiritual Director as she discusses faith and how it relates to her grief journey thus far. Read More

Michele Neff Hernandez

Different After You

Michele Neff Hernandez

When our world is turned upside down by death, grievers are frequently encouraged to “get back to normal.” But how? There is nothing “normal” about the person we love being physically missing from our lives. What if instead of trying to recreate the past or even accept a new normal, we allow ourselves to be […] Read More

Paul Schlunt
Nick Stentzel
Greg Roman
Jim Spelman

Widowed and Male: A Panel Conversation for Widowers

Paul Schlunt, Nick Stentzel, Greg Roman & Jim Spelman

Moderator: Jim Spelman

This workshop is focused on the needs of our widowers, and offered just for the men at camp. We will explore a variety of topics relating to being male and widowed. Read More

Whitney Childress

Support and Community for Suicide Survivors

Whitney Childress

This workshop will offer support for widowed people whose partners died by suicide. We will discuss coping strategies, offer psycho-educational information and provide time and support... Read More

Sue Knight Deutsch

Words Matter: Language for Supporting Grieving People

Sue Knight Deutsch

There are many suggestions passed around on social media regarding what you should not say to someone who is grieving. Phrases like “She is in a better place.” or “You will find another partner.” though well-meant can cause additional pain to widowed people and create divides between friends and family members. In this workshop we […] Read More

We Have a Widowed Person for That (4:15pm - 5:30pm)

Camp Attendees-WPFT

We Have a Widowed Person For That

Camp Attendees-WPFT

Every widowed experience is different, and yet the way the person you love died may influence how you grieve. At Soaring Spirits we’ve discovered that connecting with other people whose loved one died in the same way as yours offers a unique and powerful comfort as you move through your grief. We Have a Widowed […] Read More

Evening Reception (5:30pm - 7:30pm )

Saturday

Morning Session (7:00am - 8:00am)

J'aime Morrison

Yoga

J'aime Morrison

Enjoy a morning yoga session with your fellow campers! Read More

Keynote Address (9:00am - 10:00am)

Block 1 (10:15am - 11:30am)

Dr. Carrie West

Navigating Family & Friends

Dr. Carrie West

Grieving is hard work. Dealing with family and friends in the midst of our grief can sometimes feel like too much. Join Dr. Carrie West as she offers suggestions to help support you as you navigate sometimes difficult situations with friends and family. Read More

Melissa Gould

Guided Writing For Healing and Connection

Melissa Gould

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

Markell Morris

Creating a Career You Love After Loss

Markell Morris

For people who want help envisioning a new future, re-establishing their personal and professional identity and discovering career possibilities that integrate what is most meaningful to them. Read More

Carl Barrett & Chad Boardman
Paul & Elaine Schlunt
Erin & Travis Meredith

Love After Loss Panel Discussion

Carl Barrett & Chad Boardman, Paul & Elaine Schlunt & Erin & Travis Meredith

Moderator: Carl Barrett and Chad Boardman

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

Whitney Childress

The Facts About Traumatic Loss: Dispelling Myths and Overcoming Stigma

Whitney Childress

Traumatic losses often divide widowed people from friends, family, society, and even other widowed people. The assumptions we make and stereotypes we hold about trauma cause ongoing pain. During this workshop we will come together with the goal of understanding our own individual trauma a little bit more. We will discuss ways to overcome personal […] Read More

Nick Stentzel

Using Creativity for Healing

Nick Stentzel

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

Block 2 (11:45am - 1:00pm)

Dana Jackson Kruse

Why What You Eat Matters in Grief

Dana Jackson Kruse

As a young widow, the kitchen was the place where I was best able to express my feelings. Cooking became my go-to coping tool. Recipe by recipe I made my way through the sudden death of my husband, and found both solace and inspiration along the way. Eventually my love for cooking led to a […] Read More

John Polo

Who Am I Now?

John Polo

If you’re asking yourself this question, you are not alone. Often-times it can feel as though we not only lost our person, but also the life that we knew and ourselves – as well. Join coach, author and speaker, John Polo, to explore the simplistic, yet complicated, reasons why so many widowed people feel like a […] Read More

Sue Knight Deutsch

Finding Light Beyond the Shadows

Sue Knight Deutsch

After a loss, the sense of not knowing which way to turn can make navigating the healing journey of transformation confusing and exhausting, often with feelings of despair, anger, fear, loneliness and disbelief. Read More

Sade Aryio

Joyful Way Forward

Sade Aryio

The loss of a spouse ranks as one of the most devastating events a person can endure. Chances are you may feel that joy is no longer on the table or an option anymore. This workshop will help you begin to make those steps back to a joyful life no matter the circumstances. Read More

Paul Schlunt
Debbie Geisenburg

Support and Community for Those Whose Partners Suffered from Addiction

Paul Schlunt & Debbie Geisenburg

This workshop will address the issues involved when your partner has struggled with addiction issues. We will offer coping strategies as well as an opportunity to meet other people who have struggled with similar issues. Read More

Bobby Moss

Disenfranchised Grief

Bobby Moss

This workshop is for those who have lost partners who weren’t legally married, and/or whose relationships were not known and/or recognized by others. We will discuss the many ways that this ‘invisible bereavement’ affects our grief experience and our ability to get support as we move through our grief. It will also provide a safe […] Read More

Kelley Lynn

How Long will the Person I Love be Grieving?

Kelley Lynn

When a person you love is grieving, witnessing their ongoing pain can be heartbreaking. Not knowing when the shadow of grief will lift or what event/sensory experience/person, place, or thing may cause a grief wave to knock your loved one down is confusing and can make providing meaningful support challenging. In this workshop we will […] Read More

Lunch (1:00pm - 2:30pm)

Block 3 (2:45pm - 4:00pm)

Amy Florian

You’re Not Crazy; You’re Just Grieving

Amy Florian

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

Heather Morrow Brown

Making Sense of Finances: Now and for the Future

Heather Morrow Brown

Making sense of finances after the loss of a spouse is a struggle for many. Whether trying to decide how to invest life insurance benefits to make them stretch or trying to survive when there is no death benefit or plan for future income replacement, Heather teaches you to understand how to do both and […] Read More

Wenny Lee

Dealing with Anger

Wenny Lee

Anger is an emotion that often comes with grief. It is identified as one of the five stages of grief by Elizabeth Kubler-Ross. Many mistakenly feel badly about feeling angry, not knowing that it is a necessary path along the grief journey towards healing. Some people do not realize that they are angry or even […] Read More

Jim Spelman

Navigating Grief, Sex, Dating & New Relationships: Your ‘Top Ten Tips’ Guide

Jim Spelman

Experience an honest, safe and sometimes humorous discussion as you learn the ‘Top 10 Tips for Navigating Sex, Dating and New Relationships Following the Death of Your Partner or Spouse’. You’ll discover why most normal dating ‘Top Tips’ aren’t applicable to you, why you most likely won’t follow them anyway and why that’s perfect! Join […] Read More

Alyssa Gavulic

Oceans of Emotions

Alyssa Gavulic

Emotions often seem overwhelming and unmanageable right after loss. However, people who are more skilled at identifying and distinguishing between even the nuances of these negative emotions are able to use a broader range of emotional regulation strategies and thus are better equipped to cope with these emotions, despite their intensity. This workshop will explore […] Read More

Grace Villafuerte

Finding Strength in Grief through Community Connections

Grace Villafuerte

We all began our widowed life not knowing exactly how to move forward. We may struggle with living in the “in between” years – the time before our partner passed, and the days and years after they pass. As we create new chapters for ourselves, rely on our cultural and community supports, and develop new […] Read More

Block 4 (4:15pm - 5:30pm)

Constance Hart

Evolving With Your Emotions: Color Therapy Tools for Becoming Friends With Your Feelings

Constance Hart

This workshop helps you discover the power of color energies as emotional allies, and how color can guide and support your feelings. Colors are like emotions; each one is a gift that leads you into deeper aspects of your whole and well self. When you gently allow your feelings, you can gain true emotional resilience. […] Read More

Dr. Carrie West

Creating a Life that You Love

Dr. Carrie West

Widowhood leaves you with a blank life slate. Plans and dreams are changed by the death of our person, and recreating a life that we love becomes part of the work of widowhood. Read More

Greg Roman

Cybersecurity: Hackers, Scammers and Trolls Oh My!

Greg Roman

There are a number of cyber related threats that affect the widowed community. The internet provides a valuable service, but also requires caution. These threats include stolen identity, ransomware, computer virus’, and social media disinformation and trolling. This workshop is taught by the CEO of a cybersecurity company. He is also active in the widowed […] Read More

Kelley Lynn

My Husband is Not a Rainbow

Kelley Lynn

With grief, "the only way out is through", and for me, the only way through is with humor. Read More

Paul Schlunt

Rebuilding the Hearth

Paul Schlunt

The best way I can describe preparing a home for a new marriage after being widowed, is that it is literally and figuratively rebuilding the hearth. Both myself and my new bride were widowed. So, what do we bring to our new home? What not? What do we create? This workshop is for widowed people […] Read More

Banquet (7:00pm - 10:00pm)

Sunday

Closing Session Breakouts (8:30am - 9:30am)

Amy Florian
Nick Stentzel
Jenny Sellers

Newly Widowed: Help for the First Year of Widowhood

Amy Florian, Nick Stentzel & Jenny Sellers

Please join your Newly Widowed community for a discussion of the weekends’ 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

Bobby Moss
Teresa Beshwate

Recently Widowed: Tools and Tips for Healing for Those Widowed One to Three Years

Bobby Moss & Teresa Beshwate

Please join your Recently Widowed community for a discussion of the weekends’ 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

John Polo
Markell Morris

Middle Widowed: Moving Forward with Hope for Those Widowed Three to Five Years

John Polo & Markell Morris

Please join your Middle Widowed Community for a discussion of the weekend’s 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

Dr. Nancy Saltzman
Aidan Park

Seasoned Widowed: Community Building for People Widowed Five Years and More

Dr. Nancy Saltzman & Aidan Park

Please join your Seasoned Widowed Community for a discussion of the weekend’s 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

Farewell Brunch (9:30am - 11:30am)

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Soaring Spirits International
2828 Cochran St. #194
Simi Valley, CA 93065

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 877-671-4071

Soaring Spirits International is a 501(c)3 Corporation EIN#: 38-3787893. Soaring Spirits International provides resources with no endorsement implied.

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