What is Camp Kerry?
Are you hoping to re-connect and have fun with your kids again?
Would you like to build a bigger circle of support for your family?
Carrying the weight of grief alone often makes it heavier. When we acknowledge and share our vulnerability, we gain access to a different kind of strength, the strength of a supportive community.
For more than eighteen years, Camp Kerry has been a refuge of hope, belonging, and understanding for thousands of families just like yours. We’d love to welcome you.
Come join us.
Program Details
- Offered in British Columbia (Camp Kerry BC) and Ontario (Camp Kerry Ontario)
- Four-day family bereavement retreat
- BC dates: September 18 to 21, 2026 at RockRidge Canyon in Princeton
- Ontario dates: October 1 to 4, 2026 at Lion’s Camp Dorset
- Registration currently open; applicants will be waitlisted until further notice
- Suitable for families with children and youth of all ages
- Extended family members welcome
- Accommodation varies by location (cabins, lodge rooms, dorms)
- Meals and snacks provided; special diets accommodated with advance notice
- Transportation is the responsibility of each family, though support may be arranged
- Suggested program contribution: 800 dollars per family
- Contact us for subsidy information
Camp Kerry offers an immersive, all-encompassing experience of belonging, where families are seen, heard, and supported in their grief. Everything at camp is designed to strengthen community connection, weaving together moments of reflection, healing, and joy.
A team of qualified counsellors and specially trained volunteers welcome and support each family throughout the four-day retreat. Programming is offered for young children, school-aged children, teens, adults, and elders, and extended family members are encouraged to attend as well. The atmosphere is inclusive, warm, and deeply supportive.
Families participate in a wide range of therapeutic and recreational experiences structured for success, including peer sharing circles, family activities, music and art therapy, nature hikes, adventure challenges, fishing, boating, sports and games, relaxation times, campfires, and a candlelight memory service.
Accommodations vary depending on location, but often include heated cabins, lodge rooms, or spacious dorm-style housing with indoor washrooms and showers. Nutritious home-cooked meals and snacks are provided in a central dining room, and special dietary needs can be accommodated with advance notice.
At this time, registrations are being accepted for both BC and Ontario retreats, with all applicants waitlisted until further notice.
Most programs at Lumara are offered at low cost and include options for full or partial subsidy as well as flexible payment plans. While families are encouraged to contribute what they can to help sustain the program, no one is ever turned away from Camp Kerry due to financial hardship. If you would like to discuss financial assistance, we are more than happy to talk with you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Camp Kerry is designed for families, and families come in many forms. Our programming and staffing support babies, toddlers, children, youth, and adults of all ages. Children and youth must attend with a guardian or adult family member. Adults without children may attend in some situations; please contact us to ensure the retreat is the right fit for you at this moment in time.
Camp Kerry retreats are intensive experiences and may feel overwhelming in the early days and weeks after a death. We recommend waiting at least three to four months after your loss before applying. Some people aren’t ready in their first year but find the retreat meaningful in their second or third year. If you’re unsure, please reach out for a conversation with our team.
Yes. Many families return for more than one year, and many stay connected to Lumara programs long after. Grief changes over time, and Camp Kerry welcomes returning families who continue to benefit from the community.
Yes. Lumara believes no person should have to grieve alone, and we understand that grief supports across Canada vary greatly. If you are able to travel to one of our camp locations, we will gladly consider your application.
The retreat is carefully structured, and arriving late or leaving early can be disruptive to the experience. Because spaces are limited and waitlists are long, we ask all participants to commit to the full retreat. If circumstances change, please contact us so we can support you and accommodate those on the waitlist.
To support the deepest healing possible, we strongly encourage participants not to bring electronic devices. If you must bring one, please keep it turned off throughout the retreat and stored in your room unless needed for travel purposes.
The retreat focuses on fostering community, connection, healing, and hope. Families can expect a balance of relaxation, meals, group processes such as therapy and land-based healing, and outdoor activities like canoeing and hiking.
We’d love to keep you involved. There are year-round opportunities to volunteer in various Lumara programs. If you’re ready to give back or join alumni events, please contact our office to learn more.