TAPS was established in 1994 and has been supporting anyone who has lost a loved one in the military regardless of the geography or circumstance of the death. We honor the life and service of those they loved. These children are all part of the living legacy of military service.

Children and teens come together from all over the nation and are paired with military mentors who understand the military and can companion these kids/teens throughout this special weekend. These children/teens learn how we, as a nation, honor those who have served and sacrificed, and they also learn coping skills for handling their own grief. They meet other children their own age, and gain a peer support network they can lean on throughout the year. The children, with their mentors, will go through grief work within their group, and learn – through experiences within the group and their mentor's guidance - that the military supports them and honors their loved one. Here they learn that they are not alone and this is a safe place to talk and just be… and be wherever they are in their grief.

The TAPS Good Grief Camp gives youngsters a solid foundation on which to build a healthy future following a tragic loss of a loved one in the military. These surviving youth learn coping skills and will learn the feelings they are experiencing are normal reactions to an abnormal event - the untimely death of a parent or loved one.

If you register as a mentor, you would need to be available for the entire weekend during the dates and times of the Good Grief Camp listed below. If you can not make a full commitment, please consider registering as a Volunteer instead at TAPS Volunteer Central.

You must attend ONE mandatory training session (Wed, May 23rd: 6:00-9:00 PM OR Thu, May 24th: 10:00 AM-1:00 PM)

TAPS Good Grief Camp Dates and Times:

Friday, May 25th: 7:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Saturday, May 26th: 8:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Sunday, May 27th: 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Monday, May 28th: (Optional) Attend Arlington National Cemetery ceremonies with mentee in dress uniform

The Seminar and Good Grief Camp will take place at or depart from the Marriott Crystal Gateway, 1700 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA.

Register as a Good Grief Camp Mentor!

IF YOU ARE A SURVIVING TEEN MENTOR and you wish to Mentor the younger age groups, please register as a Mentor AND complete the Teen Application Form found on our TAPS website. Contact mentors@taps.org for more information.

You can view a list of expectations when you serve as a Good Grief Camp Mentor here.

Suggested but not mandatory training can be found online at the TAPS Online Training website.

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND YOUR SERVICE TO THIS GREAT NATION!

We hope to see you there,

Heather Campagna
National Director of Youth Programs
800-959-TAPS(8277)
Heather@taps.org