HANDS-ON PROGRAMS


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C.O.P.S. knows that, in the wake of a line-of-duty death, many lives are affected. 

Whether you are the spouse or child of an officer, a parent or sibling, an aunt, uncle or significant other, or even a co-worker or close friend, there is an inherent need for a safe space to grieve and to process the feelings and memories surrounding that loved one. 

Our programs are designed to allow participants to do just that.  With eleven Hands-On Programs designated for each group, C.O.P.S. provides retreats specifically formatted to support the survivors as they learn to cope. 

Our Hands-On Programs are free to the participants and the only cost is travel to and from the program. To sign up or for more information, visit the National C.O.P.S. website.

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C.O.P.S. Adult Children’s Retreat is planned for surviving adult children and their spouse/domestic partner (21 years or older) of law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty, as determined by C.O.P.S. criteria.  Other relatives and friends are not eligible to attend.

At times, adult-aged children are very young when they lose their parent and struggle with their loss as they grow into the milestones of adulthood, while others may have lost their parent in their adulthood.  Attendees of this program are a wide variety of ages, and all ages are encouraged to attend.  C.O.P.S. Adult Children’s Retreat will give you the opportunity to attend grief seminar sessions specifically designed for your needs, participate in challenging and fun outdoor, activities and receive support from peers who truly understand.  It is our goal for you to leave the retreat feeling relaxed, with a continuing support system and a tremendous sense of personal growth and self-awareness for the future.
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C.O.P.S. Young Adults Camp is planned for surviving children and siblings (15-20 years of age) of law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty, as determined by C.O.P.S. criteria.  Other relatives and friends are not eligible to attend.

Growing up without a parent or older sibling role model can be challenging for young teenagers and adults.  C.O.P.S. Young Adults Camp will give surviving children and siblings the opportunity to be surrounded by peers who understand, attend grief seminar sessions specifically designed for their needs, and participate in fun and challenging outdoor activities.  This camp will be a mixture of enjoyable camp-like activities and a structured adult program, allowing surviving children and siblings to grow into young adults.  This camp is planned to offer an alternative program option to surviving minor-aged children and a new program option for surviving minor-aged siblings.  We still encourage surviving children to attend the Outward Bound® Adventure Program, but if they are physically unable to participate or have participated for a few years and would like a change, this camp would be a good fit for them.
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C.O.P.S. Kids Camp is planned for surviving children (6-14 years of age) of law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty, as determined by C.O.P.S. criteria, and their parent/guardian.  Children MUST be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

C.O.P.S. Kids Camp provides family interaction, camp activities, grief counseling, relaxation, and lots of old-fashioned fun!  Campers will have the opportunity to attend age appropriate grief counseling sessions and participate in activities such as swimming, fishing, arts and crafts, canoeing, ropes courses, archery, shooting sports, and campfire skits.  It is our goal for campers to leave the week with a continuing support system of peers who truly understand and gain a sense of personal growth with hope for the future.
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C.O.P.S. Outward Bound® Adventure is planned for teenagers and young adults (15-20 years of age) who are children of law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty, as determined by C.O.P.S. criteria.  Space is limited for this program.

Outward Bound® is an adventure-based program structured to inspire character development, self-discovery, compassion for others, and to actively engage in creating a better world.  This year’s Outward Bound® Adventure will be a water rafting trip taking place on the Colorado River through the Cataract Canyon in the Canyonlands National Park in Utah.  This program is designed to challenge surviving children to overcome the obstacles they face in their lives after losing their parent to a line-of-duty death and allow them to be surrounded by peers who genuinely understand what they are going through.
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Finances & Significant Others Retreat is planned for surviving fiancés, significant others, live-in partners, parents of the fallen officer’s children that were not married, and life partners of law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty, according to C.O.P.S. criteria.  Other relatives and friends are not eligible to attend. 

Surviving Fiancés, Significant Others, and Life Partners have to cope with the fact that plans they may have created for their future have changed after the loss of their officer.  This retreat allows them to get assistance on how to handle these challenging life changes.  C.O.P.S. Fiancés/Significant Others Retreat will give you the opportunity to attend grief seminar sessions specifically designed for your needs, participate in challenging and fun outdoor activities, and receive support from peers who truly understand.  It is our goal for you to leave the retreat feeling relaxed, with a continuing support system and a tremendous sense of personal growth and self-awareness for the future.
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C.O.P.S. Co-Workers for Couples Retreat is planned for surviving co-workers, active or retired, and their spouse/domestic partner (21 years or older) of law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty, as determined by C.O.P.S. criteria.  Other relatives and friends are not eligible to attend.

C.O.P.S. Co-Workers for Couples Retreat will give couples the opportunity to discuss their grief issues in a relaxed setting and gain a better understanding of what each side is going through.  Many times surviving co-workers have a difficult time explaining to their family what they are going through after the loss of a co-worker.  Additionally, significant others of surviving co-workers struggle with how to support their loved one, as well as the fear that something will happen to them.  These issues will be addressed through seminar sessions and teambuilding activities.  C.O.P.S. Co-Workers for Couples Retreat will give you the opportunity to address your grief issues in a relaxed setting, receive support from peers who understand, and participate in fun and challenging outdoor activities.  It is our goal for you to leave the retreat with a continuing support system and a tremendous sense of growth for the future.  Attendance at this retreat is strictly confidential, and participant names are not shared.
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C.O.P.S. Siblings Retreat is planned for surviving siblings and their spouse/domestic partner (21 years or older) of law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty, as determined by C.O.P.S. criteria.  Other relatives and friends are not eligible to attend.

On occasion, surviving siblings have been referred to as the forgotten ones, due to putting their grief aside to help the surviving parents, spouses, and children.  Siblings that attend this program find relief in having an outlet to express themselves with others who know how they feel.  C.O.P.S. Siblings Retreat will give you the opportunity to attend grief seminar sessions specifically designed for your needs, participate in challenging and fun outdoor activities, and receive support from peers who truly understand.  It is our goal for you to leave the retreat feeling relaxed, with a continuing support system and a tremendous sense of personal growth and self-awareness for the future.
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C.O.P.S. Spouses Retreat is planned for surviving spouses of law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty, as determined by C.O.P.S. criteria.  Other relatives and friends are not eligible to attend.

After losing their spouse to line-of-duty death, surviving spouses can be faced with challenges such as changing life plans, raising children alone, and/or becoming a one-income household.  Surviving spouses will spend the weekend bonding and receiving support from others who genuinely know how they feel, participating in activities that challenge their limits, and unwinding in a stress-free environment.  It is our goal for you to leave the retreat feeling relaxed, with a continuing support system and a tremendous sense of personal growth and self-awareness for the future.
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C.O.P.S. Co-Workers Retreat is planned for surviving co-workers, active or retired, (21 years or older) of law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty, as determined by C.O.P.S. criteria.  Other relatives and friends are not eligible to attend.

C.O.P.S. Co-Workers Retreat is designed for surviving co-workers to receive support from other law enforcement officers who have experienced a line-of-duty death.  Topics of discussion at this program include, but are not limited to:  how to cope with survivor guilt, assisting surviving families, how to help your department understand what you are going through, and awareness of post-traumatic stress disorder.  It is our goal for you to leave the retreat feeling relaxed, with a continuing support system and a tremendous sense of personal growth and self-awareness for the future.  Attendance at this retreat is strictly confidential, and participant names are not shared.
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C.O.P.S. Extended Family Retreat is planned for the surviving extended family members and their spouse/domestic partner (21 years or older) of law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty, as determined by C.O.P.S. criteria.  Eligible family members include: grandparents, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and in-laws.  Other relatives and friends are not eligible to attend. 

After the loss of their officer, extended family members typically assist the immediate family members with their grief and want to know how to better help them.  These subjects are addressed, as well as how to handle their own grief.  This retreat would be fitting for non-traditional families where an officer may have been raised by someone other than their biological parents.  C.O.P.S. Extended Family Retreat will give you the opportunity to attend grief seminar sessions specifically designed for your needs, participate in challenging and fun outdoor activities, and receive support from peers who truly understand.  It is our goal for you to leave the retreat feeling relaxed, with a continuing support system and a tremendous sense of personal growth and self-awareness for the future.
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C.O.P.S. Parents Retreat is planned for surviving parents of law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty, as determined by C.O.P.S. criteria.  Couples as well as single parents are encouraged to attend.  Other relatives and friends are not eligible to attend. 

Losing a child can be the most devastating thing for a parent to experience, especially in a sudden, traumatic, and often violent death.  After the loss of their officer, surviving parents must deal with their personal grief, as well as supporting other family members along their grief journey.  C.O.P.S. Parents Retreat will help you resolve your individual and family grief issues through attending grief seminar sessions specifically designed for your needs, participating in challenging and fun outdoor activities, and receiving support from peers who truly understand.  It is our goal for you to leave the retreat feeling relaxed, with a continuing support system and a tremendous sense of personal growth and self-awareness for the future.
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