Community Programs Supporting Naval Special Warfare

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ABOUT OUR Community PILLAR

*These programs are supported by the Ken Griffin
Navy SEAL Foundation Education and Children's Initiative.

We bring NSW together by strengthening family bonds, supporting commands, and creating meaningful opportunities for connection. Our programs help families stay resilient through workshops, milestone celebrations, and seasonal gatherings, and they give teammates space to reconnect and support one another outside the operational environment. We also create empowering experiences for children and teens through camps that build confidence and camaraderie. For families facing demanding circumstances or loss, we provide respite childcare and memorial support so they remain grounded, cared for, and supported by those around them. Together, these efforts reinforce the strong sense of community that defines and sustains the force during and after service.

*These programs are supported by the Ken Griffin
Navy SEAL Foundation Education and Children's Initiative.

Programs

Family and Command Support

We strengthen NSW families and commands through programs that foster connection, honor service, and preserve legacy. From readiness workshops to milestone celebrations to seasonal gatherings, these initiatives keep families united and prepared for every challenge. We support spouses and children with opportunities to connect and create lasting memories, while honoring the achievements of service members through recognition ceremonies. In times of loss, we provide travel, lodging, and memorial support so families and teammates can pay tribute and ensure the legacy of fallen heroes endures

Reconnects

Reconnect events bring together active duty service members and veterans to renew bonds and rebuild camaraderie. Hosted across the country, these gatherings create space to share experiences, support one another, and strengthen the relationships that sustain the force outside the operational environment. By encouraging open dialogue and shared purpose, they enhance mental health and help maintain the brotherhood that defines NSW, ensuring warriors remain connected to teammates and community long after their time in service.

Camps

Our camps meet the unique needs of children and teens from the NSW community by surrounding them with peers who share and understand their experiences. In these supportive settings, participants build confidence, courage, and leadership while enjoying activities that foster camaraderie and personal growth. By providing an environment where they can connect with others who truly understand their journey, camps create lasting friendships and equip young people with the skills to thrive at home, in school, and beyond.

Respite Childcare

Respite childcare provides critical support to NSW families by easing the unique pressures of military life. Through more than 100 hours of flexible annual care, parents gain time to recharge, manage responsibilities, and prioritize their own well-being. The program is especially vital for families facing unique challenges or demanding circumstances, ensuring they have reliable options when they need them most. By offering this support, respite childcare strengthens family resilience and helps service members remain focused and mission-ready.

Wow. I am so humbled, grateful, and beyond blessed. Through these unprecedented times our family, like many families, has endured an incredible amount of difficulty, stress, and sadness, as if the stress of back-to-back deployments between my husband and I in the last year wasn’t enough. We are so grateful for the Navy SEAL Foundation continuing to support families so that we can continue to support our mission and serve.

- Wife of an Active duty service member

Community is often associated with a sense of belonging and a warm, welcoming place. Now when I first read the word community, my initial thought was my time at the NSF camps, Camp Spec Ops and Camp Legacy, that shaped me into the person I am today. I spent some of the best years of my life growing and changing with other kids and counselors that I could relate to.

It’s stressful growing up in this community. You never know if it’s going to be your turn to lose a parent, or if it was going to be your closest friend who lost a parent. Sometimes you feel like you’re alone in that. But at camp, I got to spend time with kids my own age who had grown up the same way I had grown up. It helped me figure out who I was and what I wanted to be. You can ask any kid who’s been to an NSF camp if it’s helped them in some way, and I guarantee, 99% of the time, the answer will be yes.