Variety of Events Available for Surviving Military Children

TAPS Youth Programs has many great events to support surviving military children in 2017. At each of these events, children are paired with military mentors — active duty, reserve or National Guard service members or recent veterans who volunteer their time to create bonds with surviving military children and help them learn coping skills. We hope your child will join us at a TAPS Youth Programs event this summer. Find a full calendar of our events at www.taps.org/events.

In addition to TAPS Good Grief Camps, Campouts, Family Retreats and Adventures, there are a variety of events that are available to surviving military children throughout the year. Here’s a comprehensive list of events for TAPS kids:

Military Grief Camps for TAPS Kids

• Camp Corral: Camp Corral events are held across the nation for children of the fallen with multiple camp dates from June through August. These camps teach the skills needed to build on the seven C’s of resilience: competence, confidence, character, connection, contribution, coping and control. Register for Camp Corral.

• Knights of Heroes: Held in Colorado Springs in late June, this camp is for surviving children, ages 11 to 17. The goal of this event is to teach children to be responsible, proactive, boundless and bold and to exercise leadership. Register for Knights of Heroes.

• Hometown Heroes: Week-long empathy camps are held in Grafton, Wisconsin, during the summer for surviving military children and siblings, ages 7 to 17. Register for Hometown Heroes.

• Camp Hands of Hope: Held twice each year in South Carolina, Camp Hands of Hope is open to children, ages 5 to 18, and their parent or guardian. While there isn’t specific programming for military loss, this camp does welcome those who have suffered the loss of a service member. Register for Camp Hands of Hope .

• Snowball Express: Snowball Express is a four-day event in December in Dallas, Texas. This event is open to children, ages 5 to 19, and their parent or guardian. Smaller events, called Snowflake events, are held across the country for a day of reconnecting with other families from Snowball Express. Register for Snowball Express.

• No Barriers: Surviving military teens, ages 14 to 18, can attend these expedition-style events in June and July that build resilience and leadership skills. Register for No Barriers.

• A Soldier’s Child: Children, ages 9 to 16, can attend this week-long camp in early June in Tennessee. Register for A Soldier’s Child.

Non-Military Grief Camps for TAPS Kids

• Hole in the Wall: Held in Ashford, Connecticut, these week-long camps center on safety, camaraderie, possibility and appreciation for children, ages 7 to 15. Also part of Hole in the Wall, Hero’s Journey is a seven-day wilderness adventure program that teaches self-reliance, positive communication and teamwork for teens, ages 16 to 18. Find out more about Hole in the Wall.

• Comfort Zone Camp: Each month, a three-day camp is held for children, ages 7 to 17, who have experienced the loss of a parent, sibling or primary caregiver. This program is based on providing age-appropriate support through the work of trained grief specialists. Find out more about Comfort Zone Camp.

• Camp Solace: Located in Lake Tahoe, this weekend-long camp hosts children who are grieving the loss of a loved one. This event is hosted by Solace Tree, a grief support organization. Find out more about Solace Tree.

• Experience Camp: Experience Camps are held in different states across the country for children from fourth through 12th grade. Find out more about Experience Camp .

• Kids Count Too: Children, ages 6 to 16, can attend these Southern Idaho day camps. Children are paired with a buddy for the day. Find out more about Kids Count Too .

• Camp Cornerstone and Camp Memory: These day camps are held by Cornerstone of Hope in Ohio in June for children who have lost a loved one. These camps are guided by Christian values. Find out more about Camp Cornerstone and Camp Memory.

• Camp Forget-Me-Not: Any school-age child who has lost a loved one, regardless of the relationship to the deceased, is eligible for Camp Forget-Me-Not. It is held at various locations across the country. Find out more about Camp Forget-Me-Not.

• A Camp to Remember: Affiliated with the Tamarack Grief Center in western Montana, this event provides children with a four-day camp in some of the most beautiful areas of Big Sky Country. There are also camps available for teens. Tamarack Grief Center often supports TAPS at camps and campouts and through trainings for staff. Find out more about A Camp to Remember.

• Camp Erin: Camp Erin is offered in many locations across the United States and Canada for ages 6 to 17 throughout the summer. At these camps and retreats for teens, grief and loss is met with love, acceptance and programming to bring hope and healing. Find out more about Camp Erin.

• Kanakuk Kamps: Located in Missouri, these camps have a long-standing history of providing children of military families the chance to experience the impactful nature of Kanakuk. Various camps are held for children in different groups ranging from 6 to 18 years. There are also camps for the whole family. Find out more about Kanakuk Kamps .

• Camp Robin Hood: Located in the New Hampshire White National Forest, this camp focuses on athletics, nutrition, wellness, and arts and crafts. Find out more about Camp Robin Hood.

• Culver Academy Camp: In this high challenge-high support environment, children will learn leadership skills and improve personal confidence. Camps are for ages 9 to 14 and 14 to 18. Both camps are located in Culver, Indiana. Find out more about Culver Academy’s Summer Camp.

• Outward Bound: Teens from 14 to 18 can find personal growth and leadership skills through these expedition-style adventures, located throughout the country. A component of these adventures is for grieving teens and young adults. Find out more about Outward Bound.

• Camp Hope: Camp Hope is staffed by volunteers who have experienced loss in their own lives and can connect easily with children, ages 6 to 17. Find out more about Camp Hope.

• Camp Good Grief: Provided by Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital, this camp is held in various locations in Southern California for children, ages 10 to 16, who have lost a parent or sibling. Find out more about Camp Good Grief.

• Circle Camps: These five-day camps in Nebraska, West Virginia and New Hampshire are for girls, ages 9 to 12. There is also a teen program for ages 13 and 14 and a Counselor in Training program for camper alumnae, ages 15 to 16. Find out more about Circle Camps.

• Camp Courage: Set in Millville, Pennsylvania, this camp supports each camper with a “big buddy” for the weekend. Find out more about Camp Courage here.