The Creation of COVE Connection

In 2019, a group of individuals came together with the goal of creating a grief camp for kids. That first camp, held in Marysvale, Utah, exceeded expectations in every way. For three years, it provided a space of healing and connection—not just for children who had lost loved ones, but also for counselors and staff members who shared those same experiences.

After that grief organization decided they could no longer host their camp, five former members felt that something was missing. They wanted to continue providing a place where youth could come together, remember their loved ones, share their grief, and also be reminded that joy and fun could still be part of their journey. Chelsea and Kyra took the lead, reaching out to me, Madi, and Zach to see if we were interested in making this vision a reality. The answer was a resounding yes from everyone.

The Need for COVE

After the previous grief camp concluded, many in the community still felt a deep need for a space where youth could connect, remember their loved ones, and find joy amidst their grief. Before what would have been the camp’s usual session in 2022, we hosted a BBQ for past campers and staff to reunite. The excitement in the air was undeniable—so many had formed lasting friendships and meaningful connections through the experience. It was clear that this kind of support was still needed.

Chelsea and Kyra recognized that need and continued to stay in touch with former campers, who often said things like, “Man, I really miss camp. We had so much fun, and it really helped!” They, along with the rest of us, felt a strong pull to provide that healing space once again. If these kids still wanted a place to gather, share, and heal—shouldn’t we create it?

Having been part of a grief camp before, we understood what made it special. That insight helped shape the vision for what would become COVE Connection. We weren’t just reviving something—we were building something new, with a renewed purpose and a deep commitment to the youth and families we serve.

The Founding Process

As mentioned earlier, Chelsea and Kyra spearheaded the recruitment efforts. In October 2023, we all gathered in an empty study room at Utah Valley University to brainstorm where to start. Our first order of business was naming our new organization. Chelsea had already reached out to the original founders of the previous grief camp to discuss continuing its mission. They graciously gave their blessing, expressing how glad they were that someone wanted to carry on the work, recognizing the ongoing need for it.

One of our initial challenges, though, was realizing we needed a new name. The previous organization’s name held deep meaning and memories. We all had cherished our experiences at that camp and hoped to build on its foundation, but we decided to do our best to embrace the opportunity to create something new.

Coming up with a name proved to be harder than expected. Week after week, we tossed around ideas, but nothing felt quite right. We knew we couldn’t move forward without an identity. Eventually, we decided an acronym would be the best route. We had loved the tagline “Grief Comes in Waves,” which had been a past camp theme, so we brainstormed ideas connected to waves—like the ocean, lighthouses, and shells. That’s when we landed on COVE. A cove is a naturally occurring “small sheltered bay.” It was perfect! Just as a cove provides protection from the storm, we wanted our grief camp to be a safe space where kids could find shelter and support through the waves of grief.

With our name decided, we were eager to find a venue for camp in the summer of 2024. However, without an official nonprofit, a website, or much of a foundation, our emails to potential venues went unanswered. So, we pivoted and focused on the steps needed to formally establish our nonprofit organization, ensuring we had the groundwork in place to make our vision a reality.

Becoming an Official Nonprofit

Thanks to many donations from friends, families, and past campers and counselors, COVE Connection was able to hire a nonprofit lawyer. We initially attempted to navigate the establishment process on our own, but we quickly realized we wanted to ensure everything was done correctly the first time. We divided up the tasks—writing the COVE Connection bylaws, developing the Conflict of Interest policy, and handling all the logistical details involved in setting up a nonprofit.

After meeting with our lawyer and reviewing all the paperwork to make sure everything was complete, we could only wait. We had heard that our application could be approved in weeks or even months. While we waited, we continued discussing the possibilities of what COVE Connection could be and what we wanted it to become. When we finally received our application approval, it felt like everything was within our reach! We finally had a name, official recognition as a nonprofit, and we were ready to move on to the next phase.

Looking Ahead

We are so excited to hold our first camp in the summer of 2025! We have a potential location already that we think will work really well for our needs. We are looking forward to providing a space for these kids, counselors, and staff members to dive in and make connections. In our previous years of camp, we loved watching the kids tackle tough topics while also letting loose and having fun. We’re excited to introduce them to ideas about grief and happiness that they may have never heard before.

Our goal for COVE Connection is to provide a safe space for our campers. We want to build a community where everyone feels welcomed, loved, and supported. We want to be a place where it’s safe to grieve, safe to not be okay, and safe to laugh despite the hurt and pain. We want to be the place that we wish we had during the freshness of our losses.

We hope that over time, we will not only be that sheltered place for children but eventually for adults and parents as well. We have so many thoughts on young adult retreats and workshops for parents or guardians. We would love to hold multiple sessions of camp. We are just so excited about all of the possibilities!

As you follow along with us on this journey with COVE Connection, we hope you feel our gratitude and passion for this mission. Although the creation of this organization—this Grief Relief organization—is rooted in pain and loss, we feel called to help others navigate these troubled waters. Please, if you share our passion for this mission, join us! Be a camper or volunteer, or make a donation and let’s create the COVE that we all need.