'I Know What It's Like' ; After the Loss of a Military Parent, Good Grief Camp Helps Young Cope

Summary

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Camp season is in full swing, and children and teenagers all across the nation are enjoying everythng from rock 'n' roll camp to soccer camp. Carolyn Horton, 16, of Haymarket, Va., is no exception, although her camp, at least superficially, sounds less uplifting than learning how to jam like Hendrix or bend it like Beckham.

She attends the Good Grief Camp, put on by TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors), a District-based nonprofit group intended for military children who have lost a parent. Carolyn's dad, a major in the Army, died in 1999 of gastrointestinal cancer. But contrary to what outsiders might think, Carolyn can't wait for the annual three-day camp, which she has attended since 1999, to begin.

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Extract

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'I Know What It's Like' ; After the Loss of a Military Parent, Good Grief Camp Helps Young Cope

"A lot of my friends come every year," Carolyn says. "We can share joy and sorrow without judgment. The main thing is that we don't feel alone; because of what we've gone through, we have a deep connection."

The main Good Grief Camp, attended by about 250 children, takes place each Memorial Day in the Washington area, but throughout the summe...

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