Camp Widow San Diego
Friday
Camp Widow Opening Session (9:00 AM - 10:00 AM)
Join Soaring Spirits International Founder & CEO, Michele Neff Hernandez, for opening remarks. Read More
Block 1 (10:15am - 11:45am)
Moderator: Jenny Sellers
Our Newly Widowed workshop track has been designed for widowed people whose widowhood began within the past twelve months. Read More
Moderator:Tanya Villanueva Tepper
Our Recently Widowed workshop track has been designed for widowed people who were widowed anywhere from one to three years ago. Read More
Moderator: Rachel Kodanaz
This track is designed to meet the needs of people widowed between three and five years. Read More
There are many common misconceptions about the length of time widowed people will need the support of their community. Read More
Lunch Huddle (11:45am - 1:00pm)
Bring your lunch and meet up with other widowed people whose partners struggled from addiction for conversation and connection. Read More
Bring your lunch and meet up with other campers widowed by COVID-19 during the lunch hour for conversation and connection. Read More
Bring your lunch and meet up with other LGBTQ+ widowed people during the lunch hour for conversation and connection. Read More
Bring your lunch and meet up with other widowers for conversation and connection. Read More
Bring your lunch and meet up with other campers widowed by suicide for conversation and connection. Read More
Block 2 (1:00pm - 2:30pm)
Many widows and widowers have strong feelings about the word “widow”. Join Anita and Mel, the hosts of the Widow We Do Now? Podcast as we have fun exploring different ways to think of this title forced upon us. This will be an interactive session that promotes community and highlights that we are in a […] Read More
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
This workshop will provide an understanding of children and their development as it pertains to their concepts of death and grief reactions. Children’s grief can look very different than adults’ grief, they often grieve in spurts and re-grieve as the concept of death becomes more definitive and permanent to them. As such, it is important […] Read More
You’ve experienced a loss that has you feeling like you’re standing in the rubble of a shattered life and broken dreams. You’re feeling dazed, confused and stuck. You’re wondering what to do now and how to move forward. While the future feels so uncertain, you can pick up the pieces and create a meaningful life […] Read More
Writing our way through grief into the “after” is just one of many creative ways widows heal. This workshop will offer simple prompts to write what needs to be written using the Amherst Writers & Artists method, an encouraging practice that does not allow criticism of first-draft work. Writers will have the opportunity to share […] Read More
If you find yourself living an unrecognizable existence since your loss, or you’re feeling somehow stuck between the trauma and the world where you now live, this workshop is meant for you. Come join in this exploration of the space between what happened and what’s next. Read More
This workshop will offer support for members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans, and Queer community and consists of small group discussions among those with similar situations. Through a series of rotations, you will find others who you share parts of your unique grief with such as type of loss, time in grief, and type […] Read More
After what we’ve been through, we can ill afford to endanger our finances. Debra will identify & prioritize critical financial decisions to make, so that the Tool called Money can serve to help you (not set you back) in your grief recovery. She uses every day analogies to translate financeze into English. You’ll learn how […] Read More
Block 3 (2:45pm - 4:15pm)
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
Moderator: Tammy Porter
In this panel, BWWs will discuss how their group friendship was instrumental in their collective early survival, as well as their eventual success living forward and thriving (or attempting to) after the loss of their husbands. The women will talk openly about why it matters having a widow tribe and the bond of being unconditionally “seen” in their moments of pain, celebration, laughter, questioning, and reflection. No question is off limits for these Badass Widow Warriors! Read More
If there’s one thing all widowed people probably have in common, it’s the chorus of opinions from friends, family, co-workers, and sometimes complete strangers on their grieving timeline – mostly that they’re not over it fast enough, and can’t you smile already, and stop ruining Christmas for the kids! THINK OF THE KIDS! Since cursing […] Read More
Connection. We all need it. What happens when it is broken? Is it impossible to take something back from loss? In this workshop we will explore how men and women process their grief and the importance of sharing our story. We will discuss and answer the following questions: *Can processing your grief lead to a […] Read More
Join coach, author and speaker John Polo as he presents his “Self-Care: A Fresh New Look” workshop. In this workshop we will look at self-care in new and innovative ways. Thinking outside of the box we will expand our view of self-care, while discussing its importance and practical ways to begin to implement self-care into […] Read More
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
When our partner passes, it can sometimes feel like we are losing our identity as well. Who are “you” when there’s no longer a “we?” How do we create a present and future without their physical presence? As LGBT+ people, our relationships are often intertwined with how we connect to our community. It can be […] Read More
We Have a Widowed Person for That (4:30pm - 5:30pm)
Evening Reception (5:30pm - 7:30pm )
Saturday
Morning Session (7:00am - 8:00am)
Morning Huddles (8:30am - 9:00am)
Reconnect with other widowed people whose partners struggled from addiction for a quick check in. Read More
Reconnect with other campers widowed by COVID-19 for a quick check in. Read More
Reconnect with other LGBTQ+ widowed people for a quick check in. Read More
Reconnect with other widowers for a quick check in. Read More
Reconnect for a quick check in with other campers widowed by suicide. Read More
Keynote Address (9:00am - 10:00am)
Block 1 (10:15am - 11:30am)
Caregiving through the death of your loved one takes a toll on your mind, your heart and your body. This workshop will explore the unique issues the caregiver may face after their person dies. When you have cared for your person for an extended period of time, you may feel as if you have ‘lost […] Read More
Why does it feel hard to accept help? There are 7 main reasons. The most common one? You don’t know how people can help. This workshop will review the common blocks to accepting help, show you how to overcome them, and teach you a simple way to figure out how others can support you. Read More
Moderator: Tom Ward
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
In this workshop, Dr Linda will share paintings she made in the first year following her husband’s death that turned into a book of affirmations for people-traveling-with-grief. She will then guide you in a meditation to find color, shapes, and symbols for your feelings, and listen for a message from your Wise Self. You DO […] Read More
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
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
This workshop is offered and designed specifically for our LGBTQ+ Community 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 […] Read More
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
Block 2 (11:45am - 1:00pm)
Moderator: Amy Florian
Amy Florian is a nationally recognized speaker and teacher who uses her personal experience of being widowed along with the best of current research to moderate this discussion about Early Widowhood. She will be joined by a diverse group of panel members who will discuss a variety of topics that are pertinent to those widowed from one to three years. Read More
If you are wondering: “Who am I now without my partner & where do I want to go with my new life?” Then let’s begin a journey together that begins with us talking about your favorite foods and your most enjoyed meals! Mealtimes are tough enough as daily reminders of an absent spouse, so let’s […] Read More
Some days you feel like you have it all figured out but then there are other days when you are trying to remember to breathe. There is an expectation that you should be “better” by now. You should feel more, should do more but sometimes all you feel is stuck. Stuck between time moving too […] Read More
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
Moderator: Tanya Villanueva Tepper
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
Our grief is a full-body response, yet most of us don’t understand how and what is happening in our bodies and minds. Navigating grief and loss, particularly in the wake of the pandemic, without that knowledge means we are less equipped for the journey. This workshop offers a deeper understanding of the science of emotions, […] 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
Lunch Huddle (1:00pm - 2:30pm)
Bring your lunch and meet up with other widowed people whose partners struggled from addiction for conversation and connection. Read More
Bring your lunch and meet up with other campers widowed by COVID-19 during the lunch hour for conversation and connection. Read More
Bring your lunch and meet up with other LGBTQ+ widowed people during the lunch hour for conversation and connection. Read More
Bring your lunch and meet up with other widowers for conversation and connection. Read More
Bring your lunch and meet up with other campers widowed by suicide for conversation and connection. Read More
Block 3 (2:45pm - 4:00pm)
There is no set time that is appropriate for sorting through your partner’s personal belongings. There is also no concrete plan for determining what you should do with them once you have sorted them! For most widowed people, the desire to begin the process of facing these physical reminders of a life lived begins with […] Read More
Moderator: Dr. Carrie West
Carrie 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.
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Grief changes us, often without our permission. Where did my memory go? Why can’t I concentrate? Will I ever feel like myself again? Join Soaring Spirits International founder, Michele Neff Hernandez, to discuss the emotional, mental and physical changes that accompany widowhood and to find hope that you can miss the old you while learning to appreciate […] 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
Whether you have lived your life as a person of faith, or are just now seeking spirituality, you know the deep feeling of abandonment and the questions and doubts that arise when you find yourself widowed. This workshop will help you learn to utilize your spiritual belief as a vital tool to help you through […] Read More
Moderator: Susan Hannifin-MacNab
Susan will moderate a discussion exploring a variety of self-care modalities designed to specifically address grief related trauma. She will be joined by a panel of widowed people with personal and professional experience in healing through trauma. They will share self-care tips that they use and recommend.
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This workshop is offered and designed specifically for our LGBTQ+ Community In this workshop we will be exploring the decision to consider a new relationship, and possibly love, after the death of a partner or spouse. We will initially look at how issues of the LGBTQ grief experience might be different, and how the response […] Read More
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
Block 4 (4:15pm - 5:30pm)
Join Bryony and Victoria to learn simple and effective tools that aid in grief management and your healing journey. Modalities such as meditation, EFT tapping, and holistic treatments for healthy grief support and sleep habits will be discussed that can help you deal with the emotions associated with grief and trauma. Read More
Moderator: Dr. Nancy Saltzman
Dr. Nancy Saltzman holds a PhD in education and was an elementary school Principal for many years. Nancy was widowed when her husband and children were killed in a plane crash. She will be joined by a diverse group of panel members who will discuss the different faces of widowhood through the years.
How I Did It: Living My BEST Life After Loss ( Even if you’re completely STUCK, overwhelmed, NEW to widowhood, or just have NO idea where to START!) 3 Crucial Steps That Changed EVERYTHING: Get On The Path Back To SANITY – HEALING + Moving FORWARD After LOSS Read More
When you are grieving, there is no question that some days are more difficult than others as they make the loss of our spouse more apparent – the anniversary date of their death, birthdays, anniversaries, Valentine’s Day, the holiday season and more. These are often days or seasons that we dread, but with planning they […] Read More
With grief, "the only way out is through", and for me, the only way through is with humor. Read More
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
Banquet (7:00pm - 10:00pm)
Sunday
Sunday Morning 5K (6:30am - 8:00am)
Closing Session Breakouts (8:30am - 9:30am)
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
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
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
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