IslandWood Family Campout
June 23 - 26, 2016
FOR SURVIVING SPOUSES/PARTNERS AND CHILDREN
Sometimes, we all need a breath of fresh air – an environment that allows for emotional exploration, natural friendships, and the freedom to know that feelings and fun can coexist.
TAPS has taken the creative grief work of Good Grief Camp and combined it with our Adult Retreats to create a unique Campout experience for families. The Campout includes traditional camp activities, memorial and remembrance ceremonies, and campfires and s'mores for an experience that encourages family and peer connections, self-discovery, and powerful healing in the open spaces of nature.
Whether family members are actively grieving the drastic changes caused by traumatic loss, feeling the void of missed opportunities and secondhand memories, or just enjoying the feeling of being "normal," Campouts provide space for everyone to honor, remember, and integrate loss into life.
ACTIVITIES
The IslandWood Family Campout will provide opportunities for individual and small group growth activities through separate adult and child break-out sessions and family activities such as games, creative workshops, reflective nature walks and opportunities to connect with others who understand.
Time spent within peer groups provides a sense of belonging and shared mission that connects campers, while family activities promote healing, communication and connection. We will make space to honor the individual process of grieving while also providing experiences to collectively journey together.
All activities are led by grief facilitators and TAPS staff and are designed to provide both physically and emotionally safe experiences for campers. Unlike our traditional Good Grief Campouts, children will not have a military mentor, as the focus of this Campout is on family connections.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
This Campout is intended for those survivors whose loss occurred more than one year ago. If you are within the first year following your loss, we encourage you to attend a TAPS Regional Seminar and/or the National Military Survivor Seminar.
Registration is limited to 30 adults and 60 children on a first come, first served basis. Due to the lodging and staffing requirements, registration will be closed once we reach 60 children.
The IslandWood Family Campout location is about 90 minutes from Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Families from outside the area will be responsible for transportation to the event, but once on site, food and lodging will be provided.
A $50 deposit per family will be collected at the time of registration. At the conclusion of the Campout, you may choose to donate this deposit to TAPS to support future programs; otherwise it will be fully refunded to attendees.
If you have any questions, please email camps@taps.org or call 800-959-8277.