Montana Men's Retreat

All surviving men grieving the loss of a loved one who served in the Armed Forces are warmly invited to join TAPS for our 6th Annual Montana Men's Retreat.

Grief can take you out of your comfort zone. It's easier to distance yourself, hide your emotions and pretend you have everything under control. But when you see that others share this journey, you can find new ways to grow and heal.

Step away from the daily stressors of life, and find yourself in a comfortable space where you can focus on yourself, honor your loved one and connect with other men who understand. In Montana, you'll be able to talk man to man about your loss and begin to reshape your grief journey. 

Move beyond your comfort zone in the presence of other men who understand at the Montana Men's Retreat. 

SCHEDULE 

Day 1:  The first day is set aside as a travel day. Once you arrive in West Yellowstone, TAPS staff will be there to greet you and get you checked in. Then, the day is yours to get settled in, meet fellow survivors, explore the area and relax.

Day 2:  We’ll start the day with breakfast and an opening ceremony, giving us the opportunity to introduce ourselves and our loved ones. You’ll get an overview of what to expect at the retreat, and you'll have a chance to ask questions. The rest of our day will be spent at our group activities, and we’ll wrap up with a group dinner in the evening.

Day 3: The third day will include more group activities, such as fishing and a trail ride, as well as some free time to relax and further connect with the other attendees.

Day 4: On our final day of activities, we'll venture into Yellowstone National Park for a day of exploring. Then, we'll wrap up our time together with a closing ceremony to honor ourselves, our new connections and our journeys.

Day 5: We'll say our final goodbyes and travel home. 

ADVENTURE LEVEL

This retreat is rated as a light-intensity adventure. We'll be active throughout the retreat and will challenge you, however activities will involve light physical exertion. Much of our time will be spent outdoors enjoying the Montana scenery. There will also be time to relax and connect with one another.

RETREAT FEES

Thanks to the generosity of our donors and sponsors, TAPS will provide lodging, most meals and all activities at no cost to you. A $50 deposit will be collected at the time of registration. At the conclusion of the retreat, you may choose to donate this deposit to TAPS to support future programs; otherwise, it will be fully refunded to attendees.

LODGING AND TRANSPORTATION

Lodging will be provided for all attendees from Wednesday to Sunday. You'll share a room with another retreat attendee. TAPS covers the cost of lodging at no cost to you, and we'll take care of booking your lodging for the retreat. 

You'll need to cover the cost of your transportation to and from West Yellowstone. The closest airport is the Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN). Please do not make travel arrangements until you receive a welcome email after registering.

REGISTRATION DETAILS

Registration opens on Friday, June 21 at 12 p.m. Eastern. Registration is conducted on a first come, first served basis; a waitlist will form once registration has reached capacity. Please keep in mind we hold a number of spots on each event for first-time attendees, so don't be discouraged if you're added to the waitlist. You'll receive an email if a spot becomes available for you.

If you have attended a TAPS retreat within the past 12 months, we kindly ask that you wait until June 22nd at 12 p.m. Eastern to register for this event. Previous attendance will not automatically be recognized due to pending registration system updates, but it will be manually verified. Any registrations violating this rule will be canceled, and you will be able to try again after 12 p.m. Eastern on the 22nd.

Upon registration, you'll receive a confirmation email. Please email support@taps.org and retreats@taps.org if you do not receive a confirmation email after registering. Within 48 hours, you'll receive a welcome email from TAPS Retreats staff that includes information about accommodations, flights, etc. Please do not book your flight until you receive the welcome email.

If you have any questions, please email retreats@taps.org or call 800-959-TAPS (8277).