TAPS Hosts Southern California Good Grief Campout for Children of America’s Fallen Military

Event to Help Children Connect with Each Other, Military Mentors to Find Healing

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - June 16, 2017

ARLINGTON, Va. – The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) will host children who have lost a loved one in the military at a TAPS Good Grief Campout in Julian, Calif., June 18-21. The TAPS event will enable children to learn ways to cope with their loss while connecting with others who understand what they are feeling and experiencing.

"The best support we can provide for a bereaved child is to give them the tools to cope at home and at school, and provide a connection with others who understand what they’re going through," said Bonnie Carroll, TAPS President and Founder and 2015 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient. "At a Good Grief Campout, children have a chance to learn to honor their hero and share with other children who have experienced the same feelings, and also to connect one on one with a military mentor specially trained by TAPS, reminding them that we won’t ever forget their loved one or their sacrifice."

TAPS military mentors volunteer their time to provide individual support to grieving military children, reconnecting the children to the military life they knew while giving them coping skills and support systems. They are led by TAPS staff and group facilitators who are leading experts in childhood traumatic grief.

AVAILABLE
FOR INTERVIEW:     Erin Hefner, Youth Programs Project Manager and Camp Co-Director
                                        Kimberly Taylor, Youth Programs Project Manager and Camp Manager
                                        TAPS Good Grief Camp Mentors
                                        Surviving Military Families

INTERVIEW
OPPORTUNITIES:   Campout activities, including zipline, low ropes course, nature hike,
                                       climbing wall and creative workshop on Monday and Tuesday, June 19-20,
                                       from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Whispering Winds Camp, Julian, Calif.
                               

MEDIA CREDENTIALS:
To attend any part of the campout, contact Christine Fuentes at christine.fuentes@taps.org or 202.588.TAPS (8277).

While many surviving families are open to sharing their loved ones' stories, TAPS asks that the media be mindful that some may need time to collect their thoughts. You can find tips on covering families, specifically children, and trauma at www.taps.org/media.

ABOUT TAPS
The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) is the national organization providing compassionate care for the families of America’s fallen military heroes and has offered support to more than 70,000 surviving family members of our fallen military and their caregivers since 1994. TAPS provides peer-based emotional support, grief and trauma resources, grief seminars and retreats for adults, Good Grief Camps for children, case work assistance, connections to community-based care, online and in-person support groups and a 24/7 resource and information helpline for all who have been affected by a death in the Armed Forces. Services are provided free of charge. For more information go to www.taps.org or call the toll-free TAPS resource and information helpline at 1.800.959.TAPS (8277).