After Military Service

CAMP SHIELD IS A DIVISIONAL DBA OF AFTER MILITARY SERVICE (AMS), A 501(C)3 ORGANIZATION THAT WAS FOUNDED IN 2017. AMS STRIVES TO SUPPORT THE PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL SUCCESS OF VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES BY INCREASING RESILIENCY, LIFE SATISFACTION AND EMPOWERING OUR NATION'S MILITARY FAMILIES. CAMP SHIELD'S MISSION IS TO EMPOWER WOMEN VETERANS - EMOTIONALLY, SOCIALLY, AND PHYSICALLY, TO ENSURE SHE THRIVES AFTER MILITARY SERVICE. CAMP SHIELD'S VISION IS TO REDUCE THE RISK OF WOMEN VETERAN'S HOMELESSNESS, DEPRESSION, AND SUICIDE BY PROVIDING A SECURE AND COMFORTABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR VETERANS AND THEIR CHILDREN TO HEAL AND GROW. TO ACHIEVE THIS VISION, CAMP SHIELD PROVIDES A SERIES OF SHE THRIVES WORKSHOPS, MASTERMIND BOOK CLUBS, PEER-TO-PEER SUPPORT GROUPS, RETREATS, AND RESOURCE REFERRAL SERVICES. WE ALSO COLLABORATE WITH MANY OTHER VETERAN SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS TO PARTNER WITH AND REFER OUR VETERANS TO AS NEEDED.

CAMP SHIELD'S SHE THRIVES RETREATS PROVIDE WOMEN VETERANS WITH A MULTI-DAY RETREAT, HELD AT AN OFF-SITE FACILITY. THE RETREATS FOCUS ON OUR MISSION OF EMPOWERING WOMEN VETERANS THROUGH EMOTIONAL STRENGTH, SOCIAL UNITY, AND PHYSICAL PERSEVERANCE. BY ALLOWING A VETERAN'S CHILDREN TO ATTEND THE RETREAT, WE CAN PROVIDE PROGRAMMING SPECIFIC TO FAMILY HEALING AND RECOVERY. OUR RETREAT MODEL IS EASILY UPDATED AND MODIFIED TO PROVIDE THE LATEST INFORMATION AND HEALING PRACTICES, INCLUDING TRADITIONAL THERAPIES AND HOLISTIC HEALTH APPROACHES. WE HAVE A CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST IN ATTENDANCE TO FACILITATE SOME OF THE WORKSHOPS AND TO BE THERE SHOULD ONE OF THE WOMEN OR CHILDREN IN ATTENDANCE NEED TO TALK WITH A LICENSED THERAPIST. IN 2021 WE HAD TWO RETREATS. EACH OF THOSE RETREATS HAD 20 WOMEN AND 10 OF THEIR CHILDREN IN ATTENDANCE.

CAMP SHIELD'S SHE THRIVES WORKSHOPS PROVIDE WOMEN VETERANS WITH THE KNOWLEDGE, TOOLS, AND EXPERIENCES TO ACHIEVE AND MAINTAIN EMOTIONAL STRENGTH, SOCIAL UNITY, AND PHYSICAL PERSEVERANCE. THESE WORKSHOPS ARE TWO TO SIX-HOUR LONG LEARNING SESSIONS WHICH CAN BE COMPLETED WITHIN A SINGLE DAY OR OVER SEVERAL WEEKS. CAMP SHIELD WILL STRIVE TO BUILD STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS SO WE CAN OFFER SHE THRIVES WORKSHOPS ON A LARGER SCALE. A FEW EXAMPLES OF THESE WORKSHOPS MAY INCLUDE: WHO AM I NOW?, FINANCIAL FITNESS, AND MIND-BODY WELLNESS. OTHER WORKSHOPS WILL COVER LEADERSHIP TRAINING, SCUBA DIVING, HIKING, FISHING/HUNTING, WOMEN'S SELF-DEFENSE, AND FIREARM EDUCATION/CERTIFICATION. WORKSHOPS ARE CURRENTLY OFFERED MONTHLY WITH A LICENSED CLINICIAN IN ATTENDANCE OR ON-CALL. CHILDCARE IS PROVIDED, IF NEEDED. IN 2021 WE HAD 12 WORKSHOPS

CAMP SHIELD'S SHE THRIVES MASTERMIND BOOK CLUBS PROVIDE WOMEN VETERANS THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE 'PERSONAL/POST TRAUMATIC GROWTH' FOCUSED BOOKS WITH THEIR PEERS. THESE FACILITATED, IN-DEPTH CONVERSATIONS, ARE LED BY QUALIFIED VOLUNTEERS. PARTICIPANTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO GIVE HONEST FEEDBACK, OPINIONS, AND TO CREATE ACTIONABLE ITEMS THAT THEY MAY INCORPORATE INTO THEIR LIVES. IN 2021 WE HAD 2 BOOK CLUBS THAT SERVED 30 WOMEN VETERANS.