Northwest Regional Military Survivor Seminar and Good Grief Camp

Getting Connected to the Seminar

The TAPS app allows you to stay organized at seminars and find pertinent workshop information with the click of a button. You will be able to receive real-time notifications from TAPS and save any sessions that you want to attend to your own calendar. While the app is Seminar-focused, most TAPS services are available through the TAPS app, as well.

Virtual Workshop Access: Those who registered for the virtual workshops will receive an email with the virtual workshop information.

Download and install the TAPS App on your device using the button links or QR code below. If you have any questions or need further assistance, contact appsupport@taps.org.

SCHEDULE AND SESSIONS

7:00 p.m. — Pre-event What to Expect, Your Seminar Questions Answered
Attending in person? Please join us for a pre-event Zoom meeting to talk about what to expect at a regional seminar. We will also review safety and health standards that will be in place for our Regional Seminar. We will discuss hotel check-in, registration, meals, mask requirements and many other details that have been taken care of for us to gather safely in-person. Access to the Zoom meetings will be emailed to those who registered for the virtual workshops.

• 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. - Peer Mentor Training

• 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. - Family Registrationn

• 5:00 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. - Family Dinner

• 5:45 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. - Good Grief Camp Zone (Grades K - 12)

• 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. - First Time Attendee and Peer Mentor Gatherings

• 7:15 p.m. - 8:15 p.m.

  Dessert Sharing Group Sessions for
  Accident Loss
  Illness Loss
  Suicide Loss
  Combat Loss
  Homicide Loss
  (designated areas will have signage indicating type of loss)

• 8:30 p.m.

  Young Adult and Legacy Mentor Gathering

• 6:30 a.m. - Morning Nature Walk with Jason Stout
  Please wear comfortable clothing.

• 7:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. - Family Breakfast
  There will be areas reserved for a Men's Only social.

• 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. - Family Registration

• 8:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. - Good Grief Camp

• 9:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. - Opening Session with Bonnie Carroll and Dr. Frank Campbell

• 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. - Workshops and Sessions

  How to Grieve Like a Man (Men Only) – Dr. Frank Campbell
  In this interactive workshop, we will discuss the ways men may reveal their grief and share our experiences. Our goal will be understanding and insight, not changing the way others grieve. This is an ideal workshop for men in attendance who may be dating a survivor, as well as for men who are actively grieving the loss of a loved one. This session will not be live streamed.

  Women's Empowerment: Who Am I Now? - Erin Jacobson
  The pain of loss often ushers in hard questions about identity and purpose. As we work to integrate loss into our lives, we must also redefine who we are. At the heart of the Women's Empowerment (WE) program at TAPS we provide spaces and tools to explore these complex topics through a lens of gratitude, resilience and kindness. In this interactive workshop, we will touch on some ways that we can begin the process of self-discovery as well as have the opportunity to meet other women on that same path. Our vibrant, compassionate community of surviving women is a place of support and inspiration, where we treasure opportunities to be each other’s teachers, confidantes, cheerleaders, and friends. Whether you have been a part of the WE sisterhood for a long time or are curious about the community, we welcome you! This session will be offered virtually.

  Building Emotional Resilience: Nurturing Inner Strength – Jesse Tubb
  In this session, we will explore the concept of emotional resilience and learn practical strategies to cultivate resilience in the face of life’s challenges. By developing emotional resilience, you can intentionally respond to adversity, adapt to change, and thrive in the face of difficulties, including loss. This workshop will provide you with practical tools and strategies to grow your capacity for resilience and stay buoyant during challenging times. We will cover how to acknowledge your experience, gain emotional clarity, prioritize self-care, show yourself grace and compassion, and use it as an opportunity for growth. This session will not be live streamed.

• 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.

  Lunch and Peer Group Sessions for
  Spouses and Significant Others
  Siblings and Adult Children
  Battle Buddies, Friends and Extended Family
  Parents and Grandparents
  (designated areas will have signage indicating type of relationship)

• 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. - Workshops and Sessions

  Is My Loss Traumatic – Dr. Frank Campbell
  Traumatic grief has characteristics different from the more traditional grief associated with death. Dr. Frank Campbell will describe elements that stand out when experiencing traumatic grief that compromise the activities of daily living and impact sleep, physical health and overall well-being. When assumed to be characteristics of "normal" grief many find processing their loss overwhelming resulting in a more difficult grief journey. Participants attending are encouraged to ask questions or share personal experiences they are coping with to gain insights and practical solutions that have helped others cope more effectively. This session will not be live streamed.

  It's All On Me - Erin Jacobson
  In the wake of losing a vital person from our lives, a heavy burden can emerge of feeling alone with the responsibilities of day to day life. Although we may hear others tell us, “you’re so strong!”, we may feel anything but. Perhaps you have lost your sibling and are the only one holding childhood memories and changing family dynamics. Maybe you are a widow who feels the burden of going from a partnership to a life alone. You may be a parent who has lost a child and as a result has had your marriage dissolve in the face of that pain. Whatever your situation, there is a place for you within this workshop. During our time together, we’ll explore these situations and more in order to gain tools and insights to support our individual journey, and hopefully to find others who can walk with us with understanding. This session will not be live streamed.

  Exploring Visual Metaphors for Grief  - Dr. Sarah Conoln-Pernick
  Sometimes it is difficult to find language to describe or understand our grief. Metaphors are the language of emotion and can help us clarify the experiences and feelings we hold. In this session, we will use visual photo images as metaphors to tell our story, make sense of our experiences, and describe our journey. These images support creative conversations and enable us to envision paths to healing. This is a creative exercise and is an opportunity to take time for self-reflection and for community support.  This session will be offered virtually.

• 3:15 p.m. - 4:45 p.m. - Workshops and Sessions

  Coping When Memories Hurt – Audri Beugelsdijk
  We don't ever want to forget our loved ones and memories can bring both joy and pain. Sometimes we push memories away because we can't experience them without an upwelling of emotion that is difficult to cope with. We will explore coping techniques, including how linking positive memories with negative experiences can help us navigate our grief and remember even when it hurts. This session will be offered virtually.

  Creating Beauty from Brokenness - Erin Jacobson
  When we are confronted with the shattering feeling that loss brings, it can be difficult to make sense of the chaos that enters our lives. In this interactive art therapy workshop, we will explore the metaphor of stained glass windows to create collage work as a path towards transforming that chaos into beauty and understanding. We invite you to join us for a time of peace, inspiration and creation. This space is for you to come exactly as you are and allow yourself to see what shows up on the page. No art experience is necessary and all levels are welcome.  This session will not be live streamed.

  Building Stronger Bonds: Adopting a Team Mindset for Your Family – Jesse Tubb
  In this interactive session, we will explore the concept of a family functioning as a team and how adopting a team mindset can strengthen relationships, improve communication, and foster a supportive and positive family environment where everyone thrives. By thinking of your family as a team, you can unlock the potential for greater unity and collaboration, even while acknowledging the impact of grief within your household. Your family is more than just a group of individuals, and by recognizing and embracing the experiences, strengths, and talents of each family member, you can create a flourishing family team. This workshop will include a team scavenger hunt that will require participants to work in small teams to find checkpoints in and around the hotel. This session will not be live streamed.

• 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. - Family Dinner

• 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. - Young Adults and Legacy Mentors Care Group (Ages 18 to 30)
  Please join us as we gather and have a time of sharing and support. This facilitated care group provides an opportunity to share about your grief in a safe space with others going through similar situations.

• 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. - Troops Together

• 6:30 a.m. - Morning Nature Walk with Jason Stout
  Please wear comfortable clothing.

• 7:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. - Family Breakfast
  There will be areas reserved for a Men's Only social.

• 8:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. - Good Grief Camp

• 9:00 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. - Workshops and Sessions

  Grief Can Do THAT? – Dr. Frank Campbell
  This workshop is designed to describe many of the confusing ways grief will impact individuals and families. Our time together will also include opportunities to ask questions or present concerns from those attending. Descriptions of how Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) are impacted and how vital self-care is for management of grief. This session will not be live streamed.

  God Winks  – Bonnie Carroll
  Some people call them “God Winks,” some call them signs, messages or after-death communication. No matter what we call them, signs from our loved ones can be very present in our lives. Stories and experiences of the presence of our loved ones will be discussed in this open-minded and intimate sharing session. This session will not be live streamed.

  Building Scaffolding: Integrating Lessons Learned into Your Life Beyond the TAPS Weekend – Jesse Tubb
  This seminar aims to provide participants with practical strategies and tools to effectively integrate insights from this weekend into their lives. By building a solid scaffolding framework, participants will learn how to create a seamless bridge between lessons and tools learned throughout the seminar material and their daily lives. We will discuss how to maximize the impact of the weekend and foster long-term growth and transformation. Don’t let what you learn here, stay here!  This session will be offered virtually.

• 10:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. - Workshops and Sessions

  Remember the Dash – Dr. Frank Campbell
  Headstones often note the date of birth and date of death and between those dates is a dash that is intended to mark the lifeline of that individual. Clearly for so many the date of death is the focus especially when it is sudden and traumatic. Traumatic death has often eclipses the life (the dash) of the individual who has died and their life should not be erased by a manner of death. Most of us know famous and historical people not by a diagnosis or manner of death but by what they accomplished while they were alive. This presentation will address the value of finding the memories represented by the dash. This session will not be live streamed.

  God Winks (repeat session)  – Bonnie Carroll
  Some people call them “God Winks,” some call them signs, messages or after-death communication. No matter what we call them, signs from our loved ones can be very present in our lives. Stories and experiences of the presence of our loved ones will be discussed in this open-minded and intimate sharing session. This session will not be live streamed.

  Healing in Nature: The Power of Water – Jason Stout
  Research shows that spending a few minutes near water can be healing. Being in water or near water can change our internal state and help us become calm. Water creates a sense of awe, the sound is soothing, even the sound of water can shift our mood. During the “Healing in Nature” session, participants will learn to incorporate the use of natural spaces, small to large, as an accessible tool they can use daily to elevate their overall well-being. This session will not be live streamed.

• 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. - Closing Session with Bonnie Carroll and Dr. Frank Campbell

• 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. - Family Lunch

SEMINAR FEES

There are no registration fees for our regional seminars. Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, TAPS provides lodging, all meals, materials, activities and T-shirts at no cost to you.

LODGING AND TRANSPORTATION

Lodging is provided at the Davenport Grand Hotel for those traveling more than 30 minutes to the event. Please request your lodging in your registration form and specify how many nights you’ll be staying. TAPS covers the cost of the lodging for Friday and Saturday nights and will book your hotel room for you.

You'll need to cover the cost of your transportation to and from the seminar. 

If you have questions about lodging, please email lodging@taps.org or call 800-959-TAPS (8277).

REGISTRATION DETAILS

In-Person and Virtual Workshop Registrations are open until July 8, 2023 (look for the blue button at the top of the page). You'll receive a confirmation email once you have submitted your registration. Please email seminarregistrations@taps.org if you do not receive a confirmation email after registering.

Health Guideline and Animals

Health Guidelines for the Seminar: TAPS will make every effort to ensure safe and healthy gatherings. We will continue to monitor COVID variants and may require testing onsite and/or other protocols based on local regulations and CDC guidance. At this time, we do not require proof of full vaccination and masks are optional. Should we have to make any changes you will be notified right away.

Animals: We love animals, but we do not allow them to attend many of our events, which are private events that are not open to the general public. We do this for the health and safety of our members. If you have any questions please contact seminarregistrations@taps.org.