Hospice of North Idaho opens free grief camp registrations for youth

Hospice of North Idaho is taking registrations now for a free grief camp that will cap attendance at 40 children and teens ages 6 to 16, a tight limit in a county where families often struggle to find support that does not come with a fee. Applications close June 1 for Camp Kaniksu, which will run June 26 to 28.

The camp is a three-day, one-overnight experience built around both grief support and supervised activity. It will start June 26 with a Camper and Parent Evening at Hospice of North Idaho in Coeur d’Alene, then move to Camp Lutherhaven for the overnight portion. There, campers will take part in grief support groups, swimming, archery, ziplining and a luminary ceremony.

Hospice of North Idaho says the camp is meant to give bereaved children a safe and supportive setting where they can connect with peers, build coping skills and understand they are not alone. The program is intended for youth who have lost a loved one, and the organization says having fun is part of the healing process, not separate from it.

Families have until June 1 to get a registration form in. Hospice of North Idaho says registration opened April 1, and returning campers may still submit forms, but they will be placed on a waiting list so new campers get priority. A counselor will follow up with families to schedule a pre-camp meeting before the June sessions begin.

The camp has become a recurring part of North Idaho’s grief-support network. Last year, 31 campers ages 6 to 16 attended the 13th annual Camp Kaniksu, underscoring both the demand for the program and the limited number of spots available each summer. For Kootenai County parents trying to find help for a grieving child, the timeline is now clear: register by June 1, then plan for the June 26 start at Hospice of North Idaho and the overnight stay at Camp Lutherhaven.