Frequently Asked Questions

What the Campers Want to Know:

Where will I sleep?
When you get to camp, you will move into a cabin and pick a bunk bed. You will share your cabin with 4 to 10 other campers your age. There will also be 2 to 4 Cabin Big Buddies sleeping in your cabin that will be responsible for taking care of you.

Who will take care of me?
The Cabin Big Buddies will stay with you the entire weekend. They will sleep in your cabin, take you to meals, and take you to activities. There will also be Activity Specialists helping you at each activity, and two nurses if you need to take any medicine or become ill while at camp.

What will I eat at camp?      
The camp cook makes breakfasts, lunches, and dinners.  There will always be a hot meal, as well as a fruit and salad bar. There will always be a vegetarian option. If you have any food allergies, we’ll make sure that the cook knows about it before you get to camp. There will also be snacks available.

What kinds of activities will I get to do at camp?
There will be a variety of exciting activities at camp. Most of the activities will be outdoors, so you’ll have to remember to bring closed toed shoes and a warm jacket in case it is cold.  Throughout the day you and your cabin will be going to grief activities, typical camp activities, as well as have some time to sit back and relax.

Will there be other kids like me at camp?
Yes. Every camper is at Camp Erin San Diego because someone important to them has died. They might have lost a mother, father, grandparent, brother, sister, or friend.

What the Grown-Ups Want to Know:

When and where will Camp Erin San Diego take place?
Camp Erin San Diego will be held at YMCA’s Camp Marston, located at 4761 Pine Hills Road, Julian, CA 92036 from Friday, June 8th through Sunday, June 10th, 2012.

How much does it cost to send a child to Camp Erin San Diego?
Camp Erin is provided free of charge for campers. 

How will campers get to camp?
Parents/Guardians are asked to drop-off and pick-up campers at Camp Marston in Julian. It is approximately 65 miles from central San Diego and takes about 90 minutes without traffic.  Directions to the camp are provided in the Camper Acceptance Packet. 

Camper drop-off will be from 3:15pm-4:15pm on Friday, June 8th.

Parents/Guardians are asked to attend a Parent Debrief at 12:15 pm on Sunday, June 10th.

Who runs Camp Erin San Diego?

Camp Erin San Diego is staffed by professionals from The Center for Grief Care and Education (CGCE) at San Diego Hospice and The Institute for Palliative Medicine.

You are most likely to be in contact with Katie Maxfield, Camp Coordinator, or Liane Fry, Camp Clinical Director.  You can reach Katie by calling 619-278-6371 or by emailing her at camperin@sdhospice.org.

Our staff and volunteers are 18 years and older and all are subject to a background check.

Who will be taking care of the campers?
Two to four Cabin Big Buddies (CBBs) will be assigned to each cabin of 4 – 10 campers. The Cabin Big Buddies will sleep in the cabins and stay with the campers at all times. Additional support and supervision will be provided by the camp coordinator, clinical director, lead counselors, registered nurses, and grief counselors.

How many children will attend camp?
We anticipate hosting 100 campers.

What is the ratio of campers to adults?
The ratio of campers to adults is 4:3.

What will the campers need to bring to camp?
Upon acceptance to the camp, families will receive a list of items that campers may and may not bring to camp. Please be sure to review the Camper Packing List in the Acceptance Packet and check your camper’s belongings to ensure that all requirements are met. Essential items include: closed toed shoes, a warm jacket and two photographs of the deceased.

What activities are provided for the campers?
Camp Erin San Diego is filled with traditional, fun camp activities combined with grief education and emotional support to help normalize the grief process for all campers.

Camp Erin San Diego Contact Info

Questions? Need help?
Contact Us!

Katie Maxfield
Camp Coordinator, Camp Erin San Diego
The Center for Grief Care and Education
619-278-6371
kmaxfield@sdhospice.org

Information on additional services from The Center for Grief Care and Education available at:
619-278-6480 / griefinfo@sdhospice.org