Turning Grief Into Hope: How Lisa Streett-Liebetrau Built Camp Koala to Heal Young Hearts

Lisa Streett-Liebetrau is the Founder and Executive Director of Camp Koala, a Pennsylvania-

based nonprofit offering free grief support to children who have experienced the loss of a loved one. What began as a deeply personal journey of loss has evolved into a safe, healing space for hundreds of families navigating grief.

Website: www.campkoala.org

When Loss Comes Too Early

Grief is not meant for children.

And yet—

Some experience it far too soon.

For Lisa Streett-Liebetrau, that moment came as a teenager, when she lost her two sisters in a tragic car accident.

A loss that didn’t just change her life—

• It reshaped her understanding of pain, silence, and healing

Because grief, especially for children, often goes unnoticed.

Not because it isn’t there—

• But because they don’t know how to express it

The Years of Silent Grieving

For years, Lisa carried that loss quietly.

Like many children who experience trauma early:

• She learned to cope internally

• She learned to move forward externally

• But she didn’t always have a space to truly process it

And that realization stayed with her.

Not as a burden—

• But as an unanswered question

What if children didn’t have to grieve alone?

The Birth of Camp Koala

Nearly two decades later, that question became a mission.

In 2008, Lisa founded Camp Koala—a nonprofit designed to support children navigating grief after losing a loved one.

But this wasn’t built as a clinical, heavy environment.

It was built differently.

• As a place where children could feel safe

• As a space where grief and joy could coexist

• As an environment where healing didn’t feel forced

Because Lisa understood something powerful:

• Children don’t heal through silence—they heal through connection

Redefining How Grief Is Experienced

Camp Koala challenges one of the biggest misconceptions about grief support:

• That it has to be sad

At Camp Koala:

• Children play

• Laugh

• Form friendships

• Express emotions through art, music, and shared experiences

Because healing is not about removing pain—

• It’s about learning how to live with it

Making Support Accessible to All

One of the most defining aspects of Camp Koala is this:

• Every program is offered free of cost

For Lisa, support should never be limited by financial ability.

The organization works through:

• Camps and day programs

• School and community support groups

• A dedicated Center for Grieving Children

Ensuring that no child has to navigate loss alone.

Key Highlights

Founder & Executive Director of Camp Koala

• Established in memory of her two sisters

• Provides free grief support to children and families

• Offers camps, support groups, and therapy-based programs

• Focus on peer connection and emotional expression

• Impacting communities through schools and local partnerships

Building Something From Nothing

Starting Camp Koala was not easy.

There was:

• No initial funding

• No structured roadmap

• No guaranteed support

Just a vision.

And a deeply personal reason to pursue it.

Lisa had to:

• Build community trust

• Mobilize volunteers

• Sustain operations from scratch

All while balancing:

• A full-time job

• Raising her own children

The Power of Support Behind the Scenes

Behind her journey was something equally important:

• A strong support system

Lisa often acknowledges the role of her husband, who stood by her vision during the toughest years.

Because building something meaningful often requires:

• Belief—not just from yourself, but from those around you

From Pain to Purpose

Camp Koala is more than a nonprofit.

It is:

• A living memory

• A support system

• A safe space for healing

What makes it powerful is not just what it offers—

• But why it exists

Lisa didn’t build Camp Koala despite her pain.

• She built it because of it

A Leadership Style Rooted in Empathy

Lisa leads with:

• Compassion

• Understanding

• Lived experience

She doesn’t approach grief as an outsider.

• She understands it from within

And that makes all the difference in how the organization connects with children and families.

A Message to Women Entrepreneurs

Her advice is honest and real:

“In the beginning, you will work harder than ever—for little or no money.”

But she adds something equally important:

• Having a supportive partner and belief system is fundamental

Because purpose-driven work is not always easy—

• But it is always worth it

Looking Ahead

Camp Koala continues to grow:

• Expanding programs

• Strengthening community partnerships

• Reaching more children and families

But the mission remains the same:

• No child should grieve alone

Why Lisa Streett-Liebetrau Stands Out

Lisa is not just building an organization.

She is creating:

• A space where pain is acknowledged

• A community where healing begins

• A system where children feel seen