STEVE, NICHOLAS, & ERICA CONNOLLY

El Tesoro de la Vida grief camp volunteers

We have 29 combined years of volunteering for Camp Fire El Tesoro de la Vida grief camp as a family. I (Erica) started volunteering for Camp Fire in 2009, my dad Steve signed up in 2012, and my brother joined us in 2016. We join our campers in their activities, participate in group therapy, eat meals, live with them in cabins, and try to create a fun and memorable camp experience for them.

Erica

I was recruited first by camp director Denis Cranford. I was hesitant and almost didn’t go – I was only 18 years old and had never been a camp kid or experienced the death of loved one. But I showed up, stuck it out for the full week and at the end of camp declared that I would never have a job that wouldn’t let me come to camp. And I haven’t missed a year since.

Camp teaches me about resilience, gives me comfort in my own grief journeys, and centers my perspective and outlook for another year. I love the opportunity to pour into kids who have been through more than any child should have to experience. Camp is a magical place and I’m so thankful to be a part of it.

Steve

The best conversations for me are usually when we are hiking and we just talk about life. Oftentimes this is when the children open up about how they really feel about the loss of their loved one and how they try to cope with it. It’s good for me to see that they feel comfortable in sharing their very personal stories about their loss while we are out in nature.

Nicholas

Volunteering with my sister and dad at camp is a special experience. Until someone experiences camp, there are just no words that can adequately explain the magic of it all. Each year I am so proud to watch my dad and sister’s impact on all the kids throughout the week.