This summer, a new dance and movement program at Camp BraveHeart will offer grieving kids and teens a creative way to express what they’re feeling — without having to say a word.
Camp BraveHeart, hosted by HopeHealth, is a free weekend camp for kids ages 5 to 17 who have lost a loved one. The camp blends traditional summer fun with supportive, age-appropriate activities to help kids process grief and find connection.
This year, a new addition to that healing toolkit is a dance and movement workshop led by experts Beth Calabrese and Samantha Moreira.
“We’re really excited to bring dance and movement to Camp BraveHeart,” says Beth. “It’s such a natural, healing way for kids to connect with themselves and each other.”
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Using movement to say what words can’t
“Movement gives kids a way to express themselves when talking feels too hard,” says Samantha. “They don’t have to explain everything they’re feeling. They can just move — and be understood.”
As registered dance/movement therapists, Samantha and Beth are trained to bring this special kind of therapy to kids of all ages and abilities. Year-round, through HopeHealth’s PediPal program in Massachusetts, they use movement to support children and teens who are living with serious illness. This summer at Camp BraveHeart, they’ll use it to help kids who are navigating the complexities of grief.
They’ll use simple activities — like scarf dancing, freeze games, follow-the-leader and a giant parachute — to help campers feel grounded in their bodies, comfortable in the group, and safe to share (or not share) whatever they’re carrying.
“Even something like everyone holding the parachute and lifting it together creates a sense of teamwork,” says Samantha. “It’s a way of saying: We’re all in this together.”
> Read: Transformative impact: A journey through Camp BraveHeart
Helping kids feel seen — and not so alone
Grief can feel incredibly isolating, especially for a young person surrounded by peers who haven’t experienced the death of a parent, sibling or other loved one.
“Kids who are grieving often feel different from everyone else,” Beth says. “Every story they read at school is about ‘mom and dad.’ Every homework assignment is, ‘describe your family.’ They start to feel othered.”
Camp BraveHeart helps lift that sense of isolation by surrounding kids with others who get it. For kids who try the dance and movement workshop, it’s another way to go about deepening that connection.
One core activity Beth and Samantha often use is mirroring — when kids pair up and copy each other’s movements. It may look like play, but it creates something deeper, called “kinesthetic empathy.”
“I move like you move. I feel what you feel,” says Samantha. “It helps kids feel seen and understood —without a single word.”
Empowering kids through choice and creativity
In each session, Beth and Samantha will offer kids a “bag of tricks”: colorful scarves, ribbon wands, musical instruments, rhythm games and more. Campers can explore, try something new, or just watch. There’s no pressure, only permission.
“Witnessing is always an option,” says Beth. “Even if a child isn’t ready to participate, they’re still part of the group.”
This focus on choice is especially important for kids who may have experienced medical trauma or loss of control. Many children at Camp BraveHeart have siblings who died after illness — and some were closely involved in their care.
“In the medical world, kids don’t always get a say,” says Samantha. “So, in our space, we let them lead the way. If they want to dance, they dance. If they want to play with bells or just lie on the floor and listen, that’s okay too.”
> Related: How a theater workshop helps kids and teens navigate grief
A space to remember, and to heal
Throughout the weekend, the dance and movement sessions will also gently invite kids to honor the person they lost — if and when they’re ready. That might look like creating a dance in their loved one’s memory, or moving in a circle together while holding a shared intention.
“There are so many ways to say, ‘I remember you,’ without having to speak,” says Beth. “That’s the power of movement. It helps us carry the hard stuff — and still find joy.”