The Minnesota Foundation for Children operates Camp Amanda–Minnesota, a grief camp that provides an encouraging environment and support network to children who have experienced the death of a parent, sibling, or significant friend. These two-day camps provide opportunities for children to meet other children whose loved ones have died and to share their feelings and memories through such memorialization activities as candle lighting, balloon releases, arts and crafts, all in addition to more typical camp fun and games. The children also have an opportunity to address any unanswered medical questions regarding the death of their loved one with a physician.

Camp Amanda–Minnesota maintains an active partnership with Camp Amanda of Des Moines, Iowa. This relationship provides us with over twenty five years of experience in providing children’s grief camps and services. To learn more about Camp Amanda of Des Moines, go to www.amandathepanda.org.

Camps are held three times a year, typically in January, April, and October, at beautiful Minnesota camps located around the state. Locations of the upcoming camps can be found on the current camper application form. Camp is open to children and youth, kindergarten through high school. Camper applications can be downloaded from this site. Click "Application Forms" at the top of this page.

The Minnesota Foundation for Children believes:

• Mourning is a process, not a one-time event.
• Mourning is a natural reaction to the death of a loved one, not an illness to be cured or diagnosed.
• Grieving children and youth will often talk through or play out their concerns and fears when provided with a safe, supportive, non-judgmental environment.

The following poem captures the philosophy of Camp Amanda-Minnesota: