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Somatic Grief Camp

Lawrence, Michigan

October 9-12, 2026

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What to Expect

A weekend retreat dedicated to honoring grief through community, rest, movement, song, and ceremony.

There is no cure for grief. There is no re-writing time or changing reality. Grief isn’t a broken bone, one that can be splinted up and healed with time. Or a case of the flu, made better with pharmaceuticals and bed rest. Grief cannot be touched by modern medicine. While there is no cure, no medicine, no prescription…

There is community.

There is rhythm. Rhythm of song, of body, of nature.

There is movement, of mind, of body, of spirit.

There is ceremony, presence, prayer.

Ancient medicines.

Somatic Grief Camp is designed, not to cure grief, but to deepen your ability to be in relationship with it. This is a communal remembering, that our capacity to feel the depths of grief mirrors our capacity to feel the joy, the love, the magic. Together, we learn how to hold space for all of it - the dark and the light, and everything in between.

Your Facilitators

LARA HAYES

Lara is a psychotherapist who specializes in grief-centered care and somatic trauma resolution. She received her BSW & MSW with focuses on trauma and psychological development, and balances her professional psychotherapy education with body based therapies as a somatic coach, ecstatic dance teacher, and reiki practitioner. Lara supports folks in all walks of grief and all ages. In addition to private practice work, she also serves as an Assistant Clinical Director for Experience Camps (a free summer camp for children grieving the death of a parent or sibling).

When we know grief, it becomes necessary to teach our body that it’s okay to be alive.

Lara hayes, lcsw & somatic coach

Emma Cameron

Emma is a healing arts practitioner specializing in trauma‑sensitive yoga and restorative modalities. Her work is rooted in the pillars of embodiment and rest—pathways that support nervous system healing and guide you back to your truest Self. Drawing from restorative and contemplative practices such as Reiki, restorative & yin yoga, yoga nidra (yogic sleep), breathwork, meditation, and somatics, Emma offers a compassionate toolkit to guide you towards your body’s innate wisdom. Her approach nurtures healing across all layers of self (physical, mental, emotional, energetic) creating space for deeper presence and alignment. Emma is a musician and song carrier, and weaves expressive arts into her offerings.

Emma cameron, ryt & Healing arts practitioner

❋ compassionate Facilitation

With over 10 years of facilitation under our collective belt, we bring somatic education, therpapeutic guidance, yogic wisdom and embodied experience. We are both initiates of grief — we care deeply about reclaiming community practices of being in relationship with grief, and with the full spectrum of life.

❋ A Supportive Space

We prioritize autonomy, safety, inclusivity and respect—everyone is encourage to show up in their full, authentic expression. Nothing is too big or too small.

❋ Intentional Structure

Somatic Grief Camp is birthed from Lara’s time as a leader at Experience Camps, a program for grieving children who have experienced the death of a loved one. With Somatic Grief Camp, we are translating the offering of grief camp for children into a camp-inspired grief retreat for adults. We offer guided moments, open exploration, and space to reflect—rooted in compassion, connection and play.

❋ community Energy

At Somatic Grief Camp, as it is in life, community and connection are core parts of the process. As within, so without. Being able to witness others while also being witnessed yourself is powerful medicine.

Want to join us?

Let’s get to know you! We want to know what draws you to somatic grief camp. We can answer any questions you might have, provide more specifics, discuss payment options - whatever you need to feel held and supported in your YES!
Fill out a brief interest form to share personal details, confirm your availability, accommodations, payment options, etc. Link at the top of the page.
After our introductory chat, we'll send you a ‘welcome email’ with options to pay your deposit. Once deposit is paid, you’re in!
As we get closer to this special weekend, we will provide you with everything you need to know and start dreaming about our time at Somatic Grief Camp :)

FAQs

Does my grief count?

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At Somatic Grief Camp, all relationships with grief are honored. Grief is a part of life, and the more we can be in relationship with our grief — connect with it, move with it, breathe with it, and fully FEEL it — the more we can connect with that internal, never-ending spark of love, joy, and wholeness that exists right next to, or even within, the grief. Grief and love are two sides of the same coin.

Francis Weller, psychotherapist and author of: The Wild Edge of Sorrow and Entering the Healing Ground - Grief, Ritual and the Soul of the World describes grief through 5 gates:

Gate 1 : Everything we love we will lose

Gate 2 : The places of ourselves that have not known love

Gate 3 : The Sorrows of the World

Gate 4 : What we expected and did not receive

Gate 5 : Ancestral Grief

Maybe you come to Somatic Grief Camp with a clear picture of your grief, or maybe there’s simply a tender tugging on your heart, just waiting for the space and safety to be felt. All grief, known and not yet known, has a place here.

How much does it cost to attend Somatic Grief Camp?

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The cost of Somatic Grief Camp is $875*

*It is important to us that Somatic Grief Camp is accessible to those who feel called to this work and this type of communal experience. If cost feels like a barrier to you attending the retreat, please reach out to us directly. We want you to be there and would love to talk through other options!

The price you see above includes: three nights of accommodations on a beautiful, 10-acre wooded property; nourishing meals included prepared by a private chef; two full days of “grief camp” activities (Saturday & Sunday) plus an opening and closing ceremony (Friday night and Monday morning); a one on one therapy session with Lara after camp; all of the planning, prep and facilitation to hold this sacred, sensitive space; more goodies along the way!

How can I get to the retreat location?

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Our retreat lodge is about 2 hours from Chicago and Detroit, and 1 hour from Grand Rapids and South Bend. If you’re flying in, the easiest option is to fly into Chicago and drive from there (could also fly to Grand Rapids or Detroit). As we get closer to Somatic Grief Camp, we’ll coordinate carpools for those driving from Chicago and can also organize a shared rental car if needed! Travel expenses are not included in retreat cost.

What are the accomodations like?

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Our gorgeous retreat lodge is situated on 10 private acres. In the spirit of camp and community, the primary sleeping arrangements will be in a spacious bunk room that sleeps up to 10 people. This room has a mix of twin and double beds, open to all who attend (all genders). If you require more private accommodations, please reach out to us directly, as we have limited additional rooms.