Camp Agape

Kim Turk

The mission of Camp Agape was started in 2000 by the founder, Kim Turk, who wanted to provide a safe and fun place with a supportive atmosphere fostering faith, healing and hope for children and families throughout their grief journey. Kim Turk said, “This ministry is God’s calling put on my heart and I knew if it is God's Will, then it would succeed, and we are still here 25 years later.”


Camp Agape (Agapé is Greek for unconditional love or the highest form of love) offers a summer camp program which blends all the fun of a typical summer camp along with therapeutic activities, all in a group setting. It incorporates the use of art, music, games and equine assisted therapy. This program addresses the needs of the whole child from their emotional health, physical fitness, and spiritual aspects of the healing process. The summer camp is for children ages 7 to 12 and is held each summer at Morgan's Camp in San Antonio, Texas. 


In 2017, Camp Agape realized the need to expand services not just to support the children, but their families as well. So, they developed a program called the Agape Family Retreat. It's a weekend sanctuary for families to come together to heal and bond while experiencing fun activities and receiving tools to support their grief recovery. They provide group therapy activities that are age appropriate for children and the adult members of the family.

Then in 2022, Camp Agape expanded to offer after-school programs. They realized that children, especially during the school year, would still be feeling the impact of their profound loss. Camp Agape started an afterschool program called Footprints. They have one in Austin, the Highland Lakes area, and they just started one in the Boerne - San Antonio area. This is an 8-week program, held for one hour a week after school, where children receive supportive care and therapeutic activities to help them continue healing. 


Another service they provide is Grief Coaching and is led by trained professionals. People can call or zoom, or they can meet in person, and it is provided throughout the year. Camp Agape has worked to make sure all of these year-round activities are free for families and children. They do not have any salaried employees and are operated by dedicated volunteers. 

Meet The Camp Agape Team

Camp Agape collaborates with chaplain seminary schools across Texas. They require their chaplain students to attend the Camp Agape summer camp program as part of their internship curriculum. But it's great for the students to have training on how to communicate and offer tools of healing for children. Camp Agape is proud to partner with Lifeline Chaplaincy and all of their campuses across Texas. Camp Agape also partners with some grief support associations and collaborates with hospice organizations. School counselors are a huge support for Camp Agape as well as churches and other faith-based organizations.


Over the last 25 years, many campers that Camp Agape served years ago have come back and volunteered because of the healing they received and now want to provide healing to other children going through similar trauma. Kim Turk said, “I just can't imagine a greater testimony to the success of our program.” Being able to walk alongside a child’s journey with a person who understands what you've been through is a profound experience, not just for the children, but also for the adults.

Camp Agape serves families who are dealing with a traumatic loss due to suicide, a car wreck, cancer or illness, accident, or military service. And now they are focusing their attention on the July 4th Kerrville flood victims. They have expanded their Family Retreat coming up October 24th - 26th, click here to see flyer. Camp Agape is going to increase their capabilities by doubling the lodging to serve as many victims of the flood as possible. For more information, to donate, or volunteer, call (830) 385-8916 or visit www. campagapetexas.org.