IN THE LAKE! IN THE LAKE!

That’s what the boys carrying me in the picture are shouting. It was my birthday, and I was at camp. At this camp, if it’s your birthday, you go IN THE LAKE. I loved every second of it. Even now, the memory fills me with joy.

Camp shaped me. It gave me a space that was entirely my own. It’s so sacred to me that I even named my son after the lake the camp sits on. That place will always be a still point in my heart.

Now, I want to share that joy—not for me, but for kids who are grieving.

I’m raising money for Camp Forget-Me-Not/Camp Erin DC, a grief camp for children ages 6–17 who have experienced the death of a loved one. Run by the Wendt Center for more than 25 years, this camp has helped more than 1,400 children find connection, healing, and joy.

Grief camp isn’t just about tears—it’s about friendship, laughter, and learning to carry grief with strength. Kids are placed in groups with peers who understand what they’re going through. Licensed therapists gently guide therapeutic activities, and caregivers are included in the healing process.

I'm going as a volunteer—not as a therapist—because I believe in the power of this space. Camp can’t happen without community support. Please give what you can, in honor of someone you’ve lost, or in anticipation of the grief we all must one day face.

Grief is coming for all of us. But so is joy. Let’s swing the doors of joy wide open.