Free Youth Bereavement Camp — Florida | Mark Wandall Fdn

The Mark Wandall Foundation, a Florida 501(c)(3), provides free youth bereavement camps for children and teens who have experienced the death of a parent, sibling, or guardian. Delivered in partnership with Comfort Zone Camp, the program connects grieving young people with peers who understand their loss and pairs each camper 1:1 with their own “Big Buddy” volunteer for a weekend of healing and empowerment.

What to Expect
Camp blends traditional, joyful camp activities with age-appropriate grief support. Campers spend the weekend building coping skills, sharing their stories in small groups, and discovering they are not alone. The foundation also runs ongoing programs — including an equine-assisted learning program and a young adult retreat — so support continues beyond a single weekend.

Who This Group Is For
This is for grieving youth across the state of Florida who have lost someone significant. The foundation welcomes and embraces every camper regardless of race, age, religion, gender, or identity — because grief knows no boundaries.

Why Peer Support Works
Grieving children often feel singled out among classmates who have not experienced a death. A camp full of peers who understand, plus a dedicated Big Buddy, replaces that isolation with belonging — and the coping tools learned at camp travel home with them.

How to Join
Camp is completely free to families. Sign up for program notifications through the foundation’s contact page or call 941-545-3359 for camp dates and applications — varies, see https://www.themarkwandallfoundation.org/youth-bereavement-camp/.