Helping children find hope.

Camp Hope California is held at the La Mesa Boys and Girl Club Facility in La Mesa, CA.

Thanks to the generosity of many donors, attendance at Camp Hope California is offered free to all campers.

Donations are welcomed to help us cover the cost of running Camp Hope California. The cost per camper is approximately $350. To sponsor a camper or cover part of their experience visit.

All staff are unpaid volunteers.

Camp Hope is currently accepting teens ages 13-17. Please contact us if you have a child outside this age range as some camp dates may include other ages.

Our Camp Directors share a common desire to help children and teens who have experienced the death of a loved one. They are committed to creating a meaningful camp experience where campers can explore their journey through grief.  All volunteer staff are unpaid.

Leslie Wilson
Leslie has dedicated her life to helping others. Running Camp Hope is  just one of the many ways she helps people heal. Her extensive background in mental health and dedication to the process of grief is instrumental to the development and running of camp.

Charles Westfall
Charles has worked in mental health since 2007. He joined the original Camp Hope in 2010 and is eager to continue caring for youth burdened by grief in Southern California. He is committed to reducing stigma, suffering, and healing the devastating consequences of suicide through connection.

Marsha Weinberg
Marsha began her career in mental health more than 40 years ago, working in hospital, school and office settings..  She is especially proud of her work  with special needs children, developing a parent education curriculum for parents.  Additionally, she has a  special interest in resiliency.  Marsha has worked with Camp Hope since its inception and is eager to continue her dedication to helping children and teens work through their grief process, at Camp Hope.

Chris Miller
Chris worked in the mental health field for 25 years and has focused his work on helping support children, teens, and their families. He is also one of the original Camp Hope counselors, beginning his association with Camp Hope in 2006. Chris is honored to be a part of Camp Hope California’s continuing mission and legacy in helping kids and teens process, manage, and carry their grief as they move through childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. 

Sherry Gandy
Sherry has over a decade of experience supporting children and families through their grief journey. Her own experiences with loss combined with her background in mental health is what drives her to help others who are grieving. As a mother of two children she truly understands the importance of creating a developmentally safe space for kids to feel and heal.

We hold two camps per year (Spring & Fall). Dates are listed at the top of this page. Click here for registration details.