Camp Widow Virtual
Friday
Morning Activities (6:00am - 7:00am PST)
Whether you already have a regular morning practice or are interested in exploring ideas around a morning practice that might work for you, please join Kath as she shares ideas and techniques that will help you begin your day in a calm, meaningful way. Kath will talk about journaling, meditation, art, relaxation, dance, and other […] Read More
Enjoy a morning yoga session with Beth Lewis! Read More
Camp Widow® Opening Address (7:30am - 8:30am PST)
Opening Session Breakouts (8:45am - 10:15am PST)
Block 1 (10:30am - 11:30am PST)
When a life partner dies, everything shifts—physically, emotionally, behaviorally, socially, mentally, and spiritually. While we are surviving the destruction and despair of our current situation, how can we possibly begin to heal? How can we learn to restore, renew and rebuild our lives? Together, let’s discover the alphabet of learned resiliency! We will uncover powerful, […] Read More
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! Read More
Humans crave touch. One of the many challenging parts of widowed life is the immediate reduction in the affection, connection and comfort that is a natural part of life with a spouse or partner. Adding to this already common challenge is the social distancing required to manage the pandemic which has decreased many widowed people’s […] Read More
Lunchtime Chat (11:30am - 12:30pm PST)
Open Room for Lunchtime Chat
Panel Discussion (12:30pm - 2:00pm PST)
Block 2 (2:15pm - 3:15pm PST)
Finding and maintaining a social support network is one of the keys to creating resilience after the loss of our partner. Even though there are several ways to find support, the thought of reaching out can feel overwhelming and exhausting when you are grieving. The logistics of COVID-19 restrictions, quarantines, and social distancing make planning […] Read More
Restorative yoga encourages us to relax and focus on the present moment, creating a more tranquil state of mind. A regular practice has been proven to create an overall sense of well-being, calm and a more positive sense of self. The physical and mental symptoms of grief can wreak havoc on our mind and body. […] Read More
Moderator: Whitney Childress
People widowed by suicide are invited to join us for this discussion as we acknowledge and normalize the challenges of losing a spouse to suicide and provide hope for the years following a suicide loss. Read More
Regional Group Breakouts (3:30pm - 4:30pm PST)
Moderator: SSI Regional Group Leaders
Meet Regional Group Leaders and members in your area, discover live and virtual groups that are gathering near you, and connect with peers who understand your journey. Read More
Evening Cooking (4:45pm - 5:45pm PST)
Please join Barbecue Brian for an evening cooking session. Read More
Saturday
Morning Activities (7:00am - 8:00am PST)
Restorative yoga encourages us to relax and focus on the present moment, creating a more tranquil state of mind. A regular practice has been proven to create an overall sense of well-being, calm and a more positive sense of self. The physical and mental symptoms of grief can wreak havoc on our mind and body. […] Read More
Join sought after inspirational speaker Kristine Carlson, whose mission and message are built upon the tenants of joyful and peaceful living, mindfulness, meditation, and self-rediscovery in the face of grief. Kristine will lead participants through her Golden Pause, ten-minute guided meditation, which she will also make available as a downloadable link. This meditation will be […] Read More
The Shake It Off Dance Party is an upbeat way to start the day. Everyone will have the freedom to move their own way. After dancing together, we will reconnect for a quick discussion and to set our intentions for the rest of the day. Read More
Block 1 (8:30am - 9:30am PST)
Experiencing a traumatic loss complicates day to day living and grieving. Improving our response to trauma is important for creating a good quality of life. This year, it seems every week has brought new challenges to our already depleted energy and resources. In this workshop we will discuss the ways trauma appears in our lives […] Read More
Your body is doing everything it can to hold up under the weight of your grief. This workshop validates the physical experience of grief in the body... Read More
Block 2 (9:45am - 10:45am PST)
Join Zarina Garrison, author and motivational speaker, in discussing the benefits of humor and laughing on grief. She will share facts about the connection between jokes and healing, sprinkled with her own personal experiences of funny moments. She will debunk three major myths about widowhood and grief, and share passages from her recent book, Dr. […] Read More
In this workshop, campers will learn that their “normal” will never be “normal” again, but they can create a NEW normal. They will also learn how to become unstuck, which so many of us experience. We will touch on the many different emotions and feelings of experiencing multiple loss. No emotion is a bad emotion. […] Read More
Lunchtime Chat (10:45am - 12:00pm PST)
Open Room for Lunchtime Chat
Keynote (12:00pm - 1:00pm PST)
Please join Soaring Spirits founder & CEO, Michele Neff Hernandez, for the keynote address. Read More
Panel Discussions (1:15pm - 2:45pm PST)
Moderator: Susan Hannifin-MacNab
Join this amazing panel of widowed men and women as they discuss the healing power of self-care in their own lives. Read More
Moderator: Jenny Sellers
The Soaring Spirits Widow's Voice Blog Authors share their hearts with you each week and they'll be joining us from around the world in this 90 minute panel full of connection and conversation. Read More
Moderator: Dr. Nancy Saltzman
In this session a panel of widowed people will discuss their losses and how they were able to “make meaning while moving forward with their lives”. Read More
Block 3 (3:00pm - 4:00pm PST)
The death of a partner affects all areas of our lives. It alters how we view ourselves, our identity and our sense of purpose. While it can be scary, it is also an opportunity to re-imagine who we are and what we care about. When we are widowed, we sometimes fail to realize that we […] Read More
Charting your New Financial Plan: Heal your finances as you heal yourself. Widows face the unique challenge of having to make important financial decisions amid intense grief. This practical talk gently and compassionately provides widows with an overview of how to get organized with their finances and where to focus their attention as they move […] Read More
Funerals, support groups, grief counseling; what do these things look like when faith is not at the center of your life or grief? How can we begin to cope with such an unthinkable loss, without the community that being religious provides, and how does it impact us to feel further isolated or judged during our […] Read More
Whether you have lived your life as a Christian person of faith, or are just now finding your faith, you know the deep feeling of abandonment and the questions and doubts that arise when you find yourself widowed. As a Christian woman of faith and a theologian, I will help you find hope and solace […] Read More
Evening Cooking (4:15pm - 5:15pm PST)
Join us for an evening cooking session with Whitney! We will make dinner and prepare a couple of lunches for the week. Whitney has always dreamed of having an audience in her kitchen so she could share pearls of wisdom like “use more butter” or “scrape off the burned parts.” Her favorite food is pie, […] Read More
Luau Party (5:30pm - 7:30pm PST)
ALOOOOOOOHA! Bust out your tropical attire, don your lei and get ready to hula from home! Join us for a family friendly Hawaiian event celebrating love, hope, friendship and the powerful ties of community. A special Luau Party Pack (included with your Camp Widow Virtual registration) has all the elements needed to take you on […] Read More
Evening Activities (6:30pm - 7:30pm PST)
Sunday
Morning Activities (8:00am - 9:00am PST)
Raising your heart rate is good for not only our bodies, but also our minds and spirits. We’d like for you to choose your own physical activity to try during this time. Need some ideas? Lace up your sneakers and go for a run, walk and pick up trash in your neighborhood, go geocaching, play […] Read More
Widowed Person For That (9:30am - 10:30am PST)
Closing Session Breakouts (10:45am - 11:45am PST)
Community Memorial Activity & Closing Remarks (12:00pm - 1:00pm PST)
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