Chesapeake Life Center Offers Nature-Based Grief Support for Children

Camp Nabi and quarterly nature-informed therapy sessions provide healing activities for young people coping with loss.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 2:52pm

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Chesapeake Life Center is expanding its grief support programs for children this summer, with the return of the overnight Camp Nabi and the launch of quarterly Children's Nature-Informed Therapy sessions. The camp combines traditional summer activities with small-group grief counseling, while the therapy program utilizes the outdoors to help young people cope with the death of a loved one.

Why it matters

Grief can be an especially difficult experience for children, who may lack the emotional tools to process the loss of a parent, sibling, or other close family member. Chesapeake Life Center's nature-based programs aim to provide a supportive, therapeutic environment where kids can explore their feelings through creative activities, counseling, and the healing power of the outdoors.

The details

Camp Nabi will be held August 7-9 at the Arlington Echo Outdoor Education Center in Millersville. The overnight weekend camp is open to children ages 6-18 and combines grief counseling with traditional summer camp activities like swimming, field games, ropes courses, and campfires. The camp is staffed by grief counselors and trained volunteers. The cost is $100 per camper, with some scholarships available, and free transportation will be provided from surrounding counties. Chesapeake Life Center is also launching Children's Nature-Informed Therapy, a quarterly program led by certified nature-informed therapist and grief educator Marie Burgess. The next session is scheduled for June 13 from 10:30 a.m. to noon at the organization's Pasadena campus.

  • Camp Nabi will be held August 7-9, 2026.
  • The next Children's Nature-Informed Therapy session is scheduled for June 13, 2026.

The players

Chesapeake Life Center

A nonprofit organization that provides grief support and counseling services to individuals and families in Maryland.

Marie Burgess

A certified nature-informed therapist and grief educator who will lead the Children's Nature-Informed Therapy sessions.

Arlington Echo Outdoor Education Center

The location where the overnight Camp Nabi will be held.

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What’s next

Families interested in registering for Camp Nabi or the Children's Nature-Informed Therapy sessions can call 1-888-501-7077, email [email protected], or visit the Chesapeake Life Center website at chesapeakelifecenter.org.

The takeaway

Chesapeake Life Center's nature-based grief support programs provide a unique and therapeutic environment for children to process the loss of a loved one. By combining traditional summer camp activities with counseling and the healing power of the outdoors, the organization aims to help young people develop coping skills and find comfort during a difficult time.