From the very first moment, children at Camp Agape are met with compassion and understanding. The programs are intentionally designed for group settings, with one-on-one pairings between each child and a trained adult “buddy” who guides them through exercises that help them process emotions and understand they are not alone. Therapeutic activities include art, music, games and even equine-assisted therapy, all blended with traditional summer camp fun like swimming, fishing and bonfires with s’mores. 

One innovative tool, the Memory Lane Game, was created by Camp Agape to help children express feelings surrounding their loss. Based on the classic “Candy Land” format, each square prompts a question like, “Tell us about your favorite day spent with your loved one,” or “If you had one more chance to say something, what would it be?” The adult buddy goes first, modeling how to articulate emotions and giving the child a pattern to emulate.

Danny explained the importance of this approach: “The child is not usually aware of words like anger and grief, but when they hear an adult process these feelings, they begin to identify them better. It’s amazing to see the transformation.” 

Kim agreed, noting that watching children arrive burdened by loss and leave with hope and healing is one of the greatest joys of her life. “It’s truly indescribable how these little hurting hearts can be transformed,” she shared. “We’ve had children return years later, now grown, who come back to volunteer because they received so much help and want to give back. I just can’t imagine a greater testimony to the success of our program.”

Recognizing that grief does not end with summer camp, the Agape Grief Recovery program has expanded its reach to include the Agape Family Retreat, first launched in 2017. These weekend retreats invite entire families to participate in therapeutic, age-appropriate activities designed to support the healing process. Parents, teens and younger children all receive guidance in a nurturing environment, while bonding through shared experiences. The bonds formed are often long-lasting. “Families continue to gather for holidays together,” said Kim with gratitude in her voice. “Many of the children become lifelong friends. It’s incredible to witness.”

Then in 2022, Camp Agape introduced an after-school program called Footprints, designed to support children throughout the school year when grief can affect academics, social life and mental health. Held in Austin, the Highland Lakes area, and most recently in Boerne, the eight-week program meets once a week for an hour, providing structured support and therapeutic activities. The program also includes breakout sessions for parents and adults, helping families navigate the complex emotions of grief together.

In addition to local programs, Camp Agape now offers “Camp in a Box,” a licensed, step-by-step guide allowing organizations in other states — and internationally — to implement their own grief-support summer camps. The program is already in use in five U.S. states, as well as Uganda and El Salvador, where satellite camps will launch next summer. “We’ve created a model that allows others to replicate our approach. It’s a way to extend our reach and impact even more children and families,” said Kim. 

All Camp Agape programs are free for children and families, made possible by volunteers and donations, with no salaried employees. The organization partners with chaplain seminary schools across Texas, grief support associations, hospice organizations, school counselors and faith-based institutions, providing both practical training and meaningful experiences.

The Turks’ own family life reflects the same sense of commitment and purpose. Both Texas A&M graduates, Danny and Kim share a deep love of agriculture and the outdoors. They enjoy spending time on their ranch, riding horses, golfing, fishing and snow skiing. 

Their daughter, Kaysen, earned her business marketing degree from Trinity University, where she also played on the golf team, and is pursuing a degree in Naturopathic Medicine, which Kim is thrilled about. Kaysen and her husband, Tyler, an electrician working toward his master certification, are expecting their first child in February. 

“We are so excited to become grandparents! It’s kind of a big deal. He’ll be the first male born in my family since 1904, so we’re going to need some hand-me-downs,” she laughed. 

Danny added, happily, “We’re looking forward to teaching him golf at Cordillera and fishing at the lake.”

It’s fair to say that the footprint of the Turks’ lifelong work is beyond remarkable. Over the past quarter of a century, Camp Agape has helped more than a thousand children, offering a structured, nurturing environment. 

“The real motivation in life is how can we help and serve others? We’ve been blessed with careers, travel and experiences, but this is where we feel we’re making the biggest impact,” smiled Danny. 

Kim agreed, “The name Agapé came to me in a vision. It means the highest form of love, and it’s what we aim to share with every child and family we serve.”