Alaska Surviving Spouses and Surviving Significant Others Retreat

All surviving spouses and surviving significant others grieving the loss of a loved one who served in the Armed Forces are warmly invited to join TAPS for our Alaska Surviving Spouses and Surviving Significant Others Retreat.

The grief journey takes us out of our comfort zone. But when we see that others share this journey, we can find new ways to grow and heal with a little more confidence.

Move beyond your comfort zone in the presence of others who understand at the Alaska Surviving Widows and Surviving Significant Others Retreat. 

Step away from the daily stressors of life, and immerse yourself in a safe environment to help you connect with yourself, your loved one and others who understand. Explore Anchorage, create new bonds and connect with nature. You’ll learn to surrender yourself to your surroundings and be in the moment.

SCHEDULE 

Day 1: The first day is set aside as a travel day. Once you arrive in Anchorage, 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 2-3:  On our second day together, we'll kick off our group activities with snow machining. The next day will include participating in other activities like downhill skiing, snowshoeing or cross-country skiing. 

Day 4:  This will be our final day of activities, and together we'll see the start of the 2018 Iditarod race. 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 challenging adventure. These are our most physically demanding retreats. Activities will challenge you and may involve heavy physical exertion and demanding environments.

During the retreat, we'll spend a lot of time outdoors and activities will include downhill skiing and attending the Iditarod. There will also be plenty of time to relax and connect with fellow survivors.

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 at the Anchorage Marriott Downtown from Wednesday to Sunday. You will 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 Anchorage. Please do not make travel arrangements until you receive a welcome email after registering.

REGISTRATION DETAILS

Registration is currently open for this retreat. Registration is conducted on a first come, first served basis; a waitlist will form once registration has reached capacity. Please keep in mind that 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 retreat or expedition in the 12 months prior to this event, you will initially be placed on a waitlist in order to allow the opportunity for first-time retreat attendees to register. You will receive an email if a spot becomes available for you. If you have previously attended a retreat in this location, we ask that you also wait 24 hours after registration has opened to allow the opportunity for first-time retreat attendees to register.

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).