Young Adult Pacific Northwest Experience

At this unique experience for Young Adults (surviving children and siblings ages 18-24) in the Hood River area outside Portland, Oregon, our purpose will be to strengthen the bonds of our survivors through guide-led, peer-building exercises that push limits and excite the soul, as well as teach life lessons that will encourage participants to be better housemates and stewards in their community.

SCHEDULE

Day 1: The first day is set aside for travel. Once you arrive in Portland, TAPS staff will be there to greet you at the airport and transport you to Mount Hood. After arriving at our lodging facility, you will have a chance to settle in, meet fellow survivors, and relax. After dinner, we will have our opening, giving us the opportunity to introduce ourselves and our fallen family members. You will get an overview of our time together, and we will start our life lessons that evening.

Day 2: We will reflect as we walk along the trails at Mount Hood and fulfill our nature-based service project by preserving trails for all to enjoy. "Leave it better than you find it" is a great philosophy for interacting with nature and people. We will inspire ourselves and others as we lead by example. And we will continue our time at the Farmhouse learning about conflict resolution skills, budgeting, laundry, self-care, and healthy living.

Day 3: The glaciers of Mount Adams combined with the immense aquifers in the area keep the White Salmon bubbling all summer long! The river cuts its way through one of the most beautiful, constricted, and heavily forested gorges around. The water is gin-clear, the weather is fabulous, and the rapids are big and numerous, making the White Salmon River one of the most exciting half-day river rafting trips in the West and a beautiful backdrop for our survivors to connect through collaborative, healing interactions.

Day 4: We will end our time together with a closing during breakfast, pack up, and head together to the Portland airport, where we will part ways, just for now.

ADVENTURE LEVEL

This experience is rated as a challenging adventure. Activities will challenge you and may involve heavy physical exertion and demanding environments. There will also be plenty of time to relax and connect with fellow survivors.

EVENT FEES

Thanks to the generosity of our donors and sponsors, TAPS will provide lodging, meals, and all activity fees at no cost to you. A $25 deposit will be collected at the time of registration. Upon arrival at the experience, you may choose to donate this deposit to TAPS to support future programs or have it fully refunded.

LODGING AND TRANSPORTATION

Lodging will be provided for all attendees at the Farmhouse. TAPS covers all costs associated with lodging. Transportation will be provided for the duration of the experience. The attendee is responsible for traveling to and from Portland, Oregon. The closest airport is Portland International airport (PDX).

APPLICATION DETAILS

Application is now open.

Space is limited. Attendees will be selected through an application process. Applicants will be notified of selection or waitlist status. Applicants not initially selected to attend will be placed on a waitlist and notified as space becomes available.

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