Zion National Park All Populations Retreat
April 10 - 13, 2025
All adult survivors grieving the loss of a loved one who served in the U.S. Armed Forces are warmly invited to join the Zion National Park All Populations Retreat. We will explore the wildernesses of our earth and our emotions alongside fellow survivors in Zion National Park. Nature and grief can both often feel vast and un-navigable, but we know that having good guides makes all the difference. So, regardless of where you are in your grief journey or where you are with your outdoor skills, we invite you to join TAPS facilitators and professional outdoor guides as we learn new ways to look at, and move through, some of the world's most inspiring landscapes.
Overview
In partnership with the National Park Trust and USAA, TAPS has prepared a weekend of healing and adventure for mind, body, and soul. Immerse in and explore vast canyons, forested mesas and a labyrinth of desert wilderness with fellow adult survivors, representing all relationships and manners of loss, as we immerse ourselves in Zion National Park. We will form unique bonds stemming from our shared experiences of loss and grief as we connect with the dynamic landscapes, flora and fauna of the National Park during this weekend camping experience.
We will spend our weekend tent camping at a National Park Campground in Zion National Park. We will learn the basics of front country camping, explore the park from a variety of perspectives and have an opportunity to connect with survivors from across the nation. We'll provide a combination of catered and make-at-camp meals throughout the weekend.
All programs will be done in collaboration with our partners at National Park Trust, the National Parks Service and USAA. Please visit their respective websites to learn more: National Park Trust, National Parks Service, and USAA.
Schedule
Day 1: On this travel day, everyone should plan to arrive at Zion National Park at 2 p.m. Dinner will be provided.
Day 2 and 3: We’ll start these days with early breakfasts and get an overview of what to expect for the day. During the day, we will explore the National Park through a variety of activities led by National Park Rangers and TAPS Staff to include guided hikes, stewardship projects, and educational Ranger programs. There will also be free time to explore on your own. We’ll wrap up with a group dinner and evening programming. All meals will be provided both days.
Day 3: The third day will include breakfast and “see you laters” with plenty of opportunity for you to spend your day in the Park on your own or with survivors you met at the Retreat.
Adventure Level
This retreat is rated as a moderate/medium-intensity adventure. We'll be active and everyone will have an opportunity to challenge themselves. Activities will involve physical exertion and the ability to do so at varying elevations. Our entire experience will be outside.
EVENT FEES
All trip fees from arrival to departure are covered by TAPS thanks to our generous donors.
Trip fees not noted above are your pre/post retreat transportation costs, meals outside of events, guide gratuities and gear not provided (gear details below).
Lodging
This Retreat will be a tent camping experience. We highly recommend you provide your own tent, sleeping bag and sleeping pad, but we can provide support on a case by case basis. We recommend using a tent, sleeping pad and sleeping bag to maximize comfort during your camping experience.
Planning overnight experiences outdoors can be intimidating, but our goal for this Retreat is to eliminate as many barriers as possible so that you and your family can plan and have these experiences in the future. TAPS Staff will provide further support once participant selections have been made.
Transportation
Participants will cover the cost of transportation to and from Zion National Park, as well as any lodging outside of the dates which TAPS provides. The closest airport is Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, but it is preferred for you to arrive by vehicle.
If your application is approved, we will ask you to officially register for this event. Only after you have completed your registration and receive the welcome email should you make your travel plans. Please do not make travel arrangements until your participation is confirmed.
Application Details
Applications will open January 20 to February 3, 2025 (look for the blue button at the top of this page). TAPS will review applications, giving first consideration for those who have never attended this or any other TAPS retreat, in order that the greatest number of survivors can have an opportunity to attend. Thank you for your understanding.
Retreat Facilitators
Rachel Hunsell
Rachel has a background in experiential program development and facilitation, outdoor engagement, event management and public speaking. As the TAPS Outdoor Programs Manager, she develops, implements, enhances and supports programming across the TAPS network, fostering the connection of our grief journeys to the therapeutic power of nature and the wilderness. Understanding life's challenges will always arise, Rachel encourages survivors to reconnect with their inner strength by creating emotionally safe and understanding environments. As a survivor honoring the life and death of her brother, Marine Lance Corporal J. Kyle Price, she understands the valleys and mountaintops we experience along the journey after loss. The military community is both Rachel’s personal and professional home, where her efforts are directed in helping the community heal their trauma and grow through pain. Rachel obtained her Bachelor of Science in Mass Communication with an emphasis on Public Relations from Southeast Missouri State University in 2013. She is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Education with a degree in Recreation Therapy at Southern Illinois University - Carbondale, where she also served as a Graduate Assistant at Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center serving Southern Illinois veterans.
Jason Stout
Jason serves as a TAPS Youth Programs Advisor. Jason is passionate about helping youth and adults find their inner strength, form meaningful connections, and experience personal transformation through challenges. This is rooted in the losses of his sister, grandmother, and father — all before Jason was 15 years old. He struggled to deal with these losses as a teen and adult, but he found purpose and healing after completing a 78-day Winter Wilderness Leadership Expedition. In honor of his dad and sister, Jason created a national wilderness program for at-risk and grieving teens, which was featured in Backpacker Magazine, The Denver Post, and the Associated Press. He provides presentations to high schools, universities, and conferences on grief and finding resilience. He previously served Judi's House as Outreach and Education Manager and Outward Bound as the National Outreach Director. Through his work at TAPS, Jason helps grieving children and teens heal through connection and nature.
Katie Langer
Katie is the TAPS Adult Programs Senior Coordinator, working with the team to bring education and support to adults of all ages to aid in their healing process. Katie knows the intimate pain of loss and grief, as she honors the life of her fiancé, SGT Jeremy Alan Mittlesteadt, who died by suicide in December 2021. She has a Master of Social Work from the University of West Florida and is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Health Sciences: Trauma Informed Care. Katie has a wealth of experience working with trauma survivors and finds purpose in helping others navigate their grief journey.