June 5-June 7, 2026
Camp Erin Santa Cruz
Where Children Learn to Grieve and Heal
Camp Erin® Santa Cruz is a free bereavement camp for youth grieving the death of a significant person in their lives.
Children and teens ages 7 to 17 attend a weekend camp experience that combines grief education and emotional support with fun, traditional camp activities. Led by bereavement professionals and caring volunteers, campers are provided a safe environment to explore their grief, learn essential coping skills, and make friends with peers who are also grieving.
Camp Erin was created and is supported in part by Eluna. For more information, please visit elunanetwork.org.
Every year, Camp Erin cultivates a relaxed, safe, and supportive setting — one that allows kids to express their emotions, share their grief, and strengthen peer-to-peer connections. Campers will gather together at a beautiful, local site to experience activities like hiking, art, music, and visits from therapy animals. Campers will learn that they are not alone; they are in the company of peers who understand.
Looking for important grief resources to help a child, teen, friend or family member in Santa Cruz County, Salinas, your specific community, or nationwide? We are proud to share the Eluna Resource Center. Its straightforward design makes it easy to search for articles, videos, activities, and referrals to local programs. In addition, Eluna offers free personalized recommendations with a 24-hour turn-around.
We’re proud to partner with the Eluna Network to offer Camp Erin to our community. Eluna partners with bereavement programs in local communities to help fund, develop and grow Camp Erin® nationwide. For more information, please visit elunanetwork.org.
We’re excited to announce that Camp Erin will take place June 5–7, 2026, and we are now accepting camper interest forms! If you have more than one child interested in attending, please submit a separate form for each sibling. Once we receive your form, a member of our team will reach out via email to connect and share next steps.
Volunteers:
All volunteers must attend an interview, required trainings, and complete a background check/fingerprinting.
Camp Erin simply couldn’t happen without the dedication of our incredible volunteers. We’re always looking for caring, compassionate individuals to join us in creating a meaningful, healing experience for grieving children and teens. No prior camp or grief experience is necessary, just an open heart and a willingness to be present. Training and support are provided. If you’re looking for a powerful way to make a difference in a young person’s life, we’d love to have you involved. Volunteers must be 18 years of age or older.
Your Questions, Answered
For more information, please call us at 831.430.3007 or email camperin@hospicesantacruz.org