This month marked a significant and humbling milestone – we made the strategic decision to sunset ExperienceCraft, a program we’ve nurtured for over two years. While the outcome wasn’t what we initially envisioned, the journey has been transformative for our organization.
ExperienceCraft was our bold step into the future: a Minecraft-based online community where grieving kids could find support “beyond the bunk.” We merged the essence of our camp experience – play, belonging, and grief support – with the digital world where many young people feel at home.
Screenshot from ExperienceCraft for grieving kids on Minecraft
The innovation paid off in unexpected ways:
- Industry recognition and awards
- New grant opportunities
- Increased media visibility
- Enhanced connection with our camper community
But innovation also sometimes means facing the hard reality. While we dreamed of serving thousands, we consistently reached about 12 kids weekly. Technical hurdles for caregivers proved more challenging than anticipated. My fear of failure delayed the decision as we searched for solutions and reasons to continue. I dreaded the questions from board members and donors that would follow and fought against my defensive tendencies.
Ultimately, after careful evaluation and a thoughtful board discussion, we chose to redirect our resources toward higher-impact initiatives.
As hard as it was to admit defeat, ExperienceCraft wasn’t a failure – it was a catalyst. It pushed us to:
- Redefine how we measure success
- Strengthen our evaluation processes
- Build confidence in making tough strategic decisions
- Establish ourselves as thought leaders in grief support innovation
Most importantly, it taught us that organizational growth isn’t just about expanding – it’s about evolving. Sometimes the bravest leadership decision is knowing when to say “no” so you can say “yes” to something better.
Sara Deren is the founder and CEO of Experience Camps. Under her leadership, Experience Camps has conducted original research on the state of grief and launched a national network of programs and platforms for grieving kids and teens. She received her MBA from Columbia, and blends her background of 12 years in finance and business with her passion for the mission. In 2020, she received an award for “Best Entrepreneurial, Scaling” from Connecticut Entrepreneur Awards, and was named a “Patriots Difference Maker” by The Krafts Family and Patriots Foundation. Sara was named by Causeartist one of 32 nonprofit leaders who will impact the world in 2022 and was a 2023 mentor at the SXSW festival.
