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The grief of losing someone is all-consuming. Going through it as a kid is unfathomable, which is why initiatives like the Eluna Network’s ‘Camp Erin’ exist. As part of the Love Takes Action Series, this campaign highlighted their partnership with the New York Life Foundation and brought kids from Camp Erin back together for one incredible day.
Grief has an enduring impact, but support is short-lived. Americans who lost a parent growing up say it takes six years or more to move forward — but support from family and friends wanes within three months.
Recognizing how difficult nighttime is for grieving kids, Camp Erin, a sleepaway camp, fosters community among them to combat the sense of isolation. Wanting to further support, we reunited campers from Tulsa, OK, under the stars to show them how night time reveals a beauty we couldn’t see without it, aiming to minimize nighttime struggles and celebrate the beauty of the night sky.
We had John Herrington (retired NASA astronaut and the first Native American man in space) drop in on the planetarium dome and deliver a special message, ensuring his friends on the ISS would watch over the constellation.
After the event the kids also took home some keepsakes to keep their stars closer to them. The Campers each received a Star Certificate print of their as a commemorative take-home piece for them to hang on their wall. They also each received a Star Charm, a pendant necklace with the coordinates of their star engraved , so that they always have their star’s coordinates, and the person they’re remembering, close by. To reinforce that night is a time when they can take comfort in the light amidst the dark, we also gifted the kids a starscape Star Night Light for each for their bedroom.
And as a digital extension, we partnerned with Star Registration to customize the experience and make it easier for kids to find their specific star through a microsite. Also as a way for the kids to feel less alone and closely connected when they’re not at camp, fostering the community aspect by being able to see each other's stars in the Constellation of Love.
