Camp Encouragement 2026: Healing, Joy, and Access for Every Child

For children navigating grief and loss, joy can feel out of reach. Since 2016, Camp Encouragement has been changing that. What began as a humble 3-day program has grown into a transformative three-week experience that has served over 300 children across Chester, PA, and Delaware County completely free of charge. In 2026, we are expanding our reach further than ever before.

What Makes Camp Encouragement Different

For many families in our community, professional counseling and mental health support are simply not accessible. The cost is too high, the resources are too few, and the stigma can be too great. Camp Encouragement changes that.

Every child who attends receives both individual and group counseling from a licensed professional at no cost to their family. This is not a program add-on. It is the foundation of everything we do. For children carrying grief and trauma without any other support system, that access can be life-changing.

What Campers Will Experience in 2026

Children ages 7 to 12 will spend three weeks at Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Upper Chichester, PA, from June 15 to July 1, 2026, participating in:

Individual and group counseling with a licensed professional
Podcast creation with CMP Radio
A visit to Elmwood Park Zoo and exploration at Spicebush Montessori School
Art, music, storytelling, games, and more
An overnight trip to the Genesee Valley Outdoor Learning Center in Maryland
Three Camp Encouragement campers have been selected to attend Bucks Rock, a four-week arts and creativity program in Connecticut, continuing their growth later in the summer

Expanding Our Reach in 2026

This year, Camp Encouragement is proud to partner with Chester Education Foundation to bring our healing-centered program to 9th and 10th grade students in August 2026. This partnership allows us to serve older youth who are too often left without dedicated grief support, while Chester Education Foundation provides the students and the space. Your donation helps fund the licensed counselor who makes this expansion possible.

Our Goal: $20,000

Every dollar raised goes directly toward making this experience possible for every child we serve. Your contribution helps cover:

Licensed counseling for every camper, at both the primary session and the Chester Education Foundation partnership
Transportation, meals, and lodging for field trips and overnight experiences
Supplies and materials for creative workshops and hands-on activities
Travel and support for Bucks Rock scholarship recipients

Every Child Deserves This

Camp Encouragement exists because every child navigating loss deserves a safe place to heal, access to professional support, and the chance to rediscover joy, regardless of their family's income or zip code. Over 300 children have walked through our doors since 2016. With your help, hundreds more will follow.

Will you be part of their story?

Donate today and help us give every child the summer they deserve.

Transforming Lives: Camp Encouragement 2026 Program Support

Team Members