Hope & Healing for Grieving Children in New Jersey

Comfort Zone Camp is a safe and nurturing place where children who have experienced the death of an immediate family member can grieve, heal, and grow. As a volunteer, you’ll be paired one-on-one with a camper for a weekend at camp (Friday through Sunday), offering encouragement, companionship, and a listening ear. Together, you’ll take part in fun activities, healing exercises, and camp traditions that help children feel less alone in their grief.

Comfort Zone Camp is a nonprofit 501(c)3 bereavement organization that transforms the lives of children who have experienced the death of a parent, sibling, primary caregiver, or significant person. Our programs are free of charge and include trust-building activities and age-based support groups that break the emotional isolation grief often brings. Comfort Zone Camp weekends are a lot like a regular camp with games, archery, arts & crafts, bonfires, s’mores, and more. We help grieving kids get back to being a kid again!

Volunteer Roles

• ​Big Buddy - Each child (Little Buddy) is paired one-to-one with a Big Buddy volunteer mentor based on the same interests, hobbies and gender. Big Buddies serve as the child’s anchor for the weekend and take part in all aspects of camp alongside their camper. The Big Buddy role is the most active and intensive volunteer role, but also the most rewarding. Big Buddies do not have to have experienced a loss, but simply know how to listen, be supportive and have fun.

• ​Camp Photographer - Our camp photographers are needed to capture candid pictures throughout the weekend as well as posed Big and Little Buddy photos that are printed and sent home with them. Professional experience preferred.

• Camp Nurse - Registered nurses are needed onsite for our entire camp weekend including overnight! We have two nurses per camp. They administer medications to the campers and handle any medical needs should they arise

• Social Media Volunteer - Create unforgettable moments at our upcoming camp weekend! We're looking for a social media-savvy volunteer to film challenge courses, capture group activities, craft trending content, and document heartwarming interviews. Basic video skills needed (phone camera is perfect!). If you love social media and storytelling, this is for you!

NEED-TO-KNOW

• ​Once you sign up, Comfort Zone Camp will be notified and will email you soon after with information about signing up for a training.

• Volunteers must complete an online application, criminal background check, and attend a volunteer training to be eligible to volunteer for a camp weekend.

• You don’t need to have experienced a loss or have any clinical background to be a great volunteer. You just need a big heart and a willingness to have fun and be silly!

• Some volunteer roles, like the “Big Buddy” role, are physically demanding. Volunteers may be asked to run, jump, climb, and lift.

Orientation Video: Are you new to Jersey Cares? Watch our brief orientation video to learn more about who we are, what we do and how to sign-up for a project.

FAQ’s: For answers to our frequently asked questions, please visit the Help section of our website.

Waivers: All projects have non-negotiable age restrictions that are noted on the upper right side of each project description. If you meet the age restriction but are under 18, please have a parent or legal guardian complete the required youth waiver and bring with you to the project. Adults attending the project can expedite the registration process by printing the adult waiver in advance, sign and bring with you.