TAPS Togethers: Big Thicket National Preserve Day

November 15, 2025, 9:30 AM-4:00 PM Central

Livingston, Texas

Registration Close Date: November 12, 2025

This event is open to military adult and child survivors.

All survivors are invited to join us on Saturday, November 15 for a day of exploration at Big Thicket National Preserve to connect with fellow survivors, explore the history of the bogs, and immerse yourself in the beauty of nature in southeast Texas. This event will also include a stewardship project, giving survivors the opportunity to grow living legacies across our national public lands.

All populations, ages and accessibility levels are welcome to attend, but please remember that our entire day will be spent outside. If you have specific needs and accommodations, please be sure to list them in your registration in the spaces provided.

Please register by November 12, 2025 to secure your space. Snacks, lunch and water, as well as all tour expenses will be provided free for all participants!

We will spend our day on guided experiences with National Parks Service Rangers, thanks to our donor and partner, the National Park Trust, who will provide both education and support our physical safety in a variety of outdoor spaces. For more information, visit the National Park Trust.

Any gear and equipment needed for this experience will be provided to families at no cost.

Tall Trees

Additional Details

Registration is required: Once you receive your registration confirmation, you will receive additional details for this event.

Location: Big Thicket National Preserve, Livingston, Texas

Meet-up Time: 9:30 a.m.

Upon Arrival: Upon arrival, TAPS Staff member, Rachel Hunsell, and National Park Trust & National Parks Service staff will be there to greet you and direct you to registration.

Attire: Casual attire. We encourage you to wear any TAPS attire you may have and/or a photo button of your loved one as this will allow you to more easily locate each other. Please dress for the weather, as our entire day will be outside..

What to Bring: Water bottle, rain jacket, warm jacket, comfortable closed toe shoes for walking, sunscreen, lip balm, bug repellant, money for souvenirs, small day pack to carry above items.

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

About TAPS Togethers

Community is important! This is why we create a broad variety of opportunities to bring the TAPS family together. TAPS Togethers are one-day, organized, social events across the country, led by TAPS Staff or a survivor like you, with the goal of expanding our peer support community.

If there is not a TAPS Togethers event in your area, consider hosting one. You know your community best! Perhaps you know of a simple cost-effective way to bring TAPS families together for a day of hope and healing in your area. We would love to hear from you! Please submit your idea and we will connect with you to explore the possibilities.

For more information about TAPS Togethers, please email tapstogethers@taps.org or call us at 800-959-TAPS (8277).