Not Every Veteran Heals in a Hospital
Helping Veterans Find The Trail Home – Find Their Way Back Outside
I offer this as a resource beyond what veterans and their families can find at the VA or their local medical/mental health facility.
America is celebrating 250 years of freedom. That freedom didn’t happen by accident. For two and a half centuries, generations of Americans have stepped forward to serve—soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, Coast Guardsmen, Guardians, and the families who carried the burden alongside them.
We honor them with flags, parades, ceremonies, and fireworks. Those traditions matter. But after the speeches end and the fireworks fade, many veterans return to lives that can still be complicated.
That’s when another form of healing sometimes begins…
…outside.
Not every veteran heals in a hospital. Some do. Some need doctors, counselors, medication, group sessions, VA programs, and professional help. There is no shame in any of that. But some veterans also heal in places that do not have waiting rooms.
- Some heal around a campfire.
- Some heal with a fishing rod in their hand.
- Some heal behind the steering wheel of a Jeep on a quiet forest road.
- Some heal sitting on a ridge at sunrise with nothing but wind, dirt, pine trees, and silence.
- Some heal by being around other veterans without having to explain every chapter of their life.
And some simply need a safe starting point back into the outdoors.
When I came home from combat in Vietnam in the early 1970s, I was a bit of a mess – so was the country. It’s an old story, and you’ve heard it before, but I was not alone in my cold heart, closed heart, deafening silence. Besides the Good Lord and my family/friends, I reconnected with the outdoors and Mamma Nature for my salvation. I started finding my way back home. I can attest to the healing power of the great outdoors.
The Outdoors Is Not a Cure-All — But It Can Be a Doorway
Don’t get me wrong, Nature does not replace medical care. A trail ride does not replace counseling. A fishing trip does not erase combat memories. And a hunting camp does not magically fix moral injury, grief, trauma, loneliness, or the hard parts of coming home.
But the outdoors can open a door.
It can give a veteran a reason to get up early.
It can create a place to talk without forcing the conversation.
It can put people shoulder to shoulder instead of face to face.
It can rebuild trust, confidence, purpose, and connection.
Sometimes the best therapy starts with simply getting outside.
Where Veterans Can Start
This is not a complete list, nor an endorsement of every program everywhere. It is a starting point. Veterans, families, caregivers, clubs, and volunteers should always check each organization directly, ask questions, and make sure the program is a good fit.
(Links at bottom)
National Veterans Outdoors Resource HUB
The National Veterans Outdoors Resource HUB connects honorably discharged veterans with free or subsidized outdoor opportunities across the country, including hunting, fishing, paddling, hiking, and other outdoor adventures. The VA has also highlighted it as a way for veterans to find outdoor recreation opportunities.
Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing
Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing uses fly fishing, fly tying, rod building, mentoring, friendship, and local chapters to support veterans and active-duty military members. Their website includes a location finder to help veterans connect with programs near them.
Heroes on the Water
Heroes on the Water provides no-cost therapeutic kayak fishing experiences for veterans, first responders, active-duty military members, and their families. Their work is built around fishing, paddling, camaraderie, and outdoor connection.
War Heroes on Water
WHOW is an annual healing and therapeutic sportfishing tournament serving combat wounded veterans. WHOW operates under the guidance of Freedom Alliance, an IRS-registered 501c3 charity. All funds raised are for the benefit of Freedom Alliance’s programs.
The Fallen Outdoors
The Fallen Outdoors is a veteran-focused hunting and fishing organization that connects veterans and service members with outdoor trips, land access, fishing, hunting, and a community of people who understand military life. Their motto: living our dreams because they gave up theirs.
Warrior Expeditions
Warrior Expeditions helps veterans transition through long-distance outdoor expeditions. Their roots are tied to the idea of “walking off the war,” using long trails, challenge, movement, and time outside as part of the healing journey.
Veterans Expeditions
Veterans Expeditions, also known as VetEx, focuses on outdoor adventures such as climbing, mountaineering, mountain biking, and other challenging outdoor experiences for veterans.
Huts for Vets
Huts for Vets offers wilderness retreats for veterans and active-duty service members, using guided hikes, group discussions, community, and time in the mountains as part of a nature-based healing approach.
Team Red, White & Blue
Team RWB is a national community focused on veterans’ health, wellness, fitness, connection, and local chapters. Not every event is deep wilderness, but it can be a practical way for veterans to reconnect with movement, community, and purpose.
National Veterans Support Foundation
Ensuring that no veteran has to struggle alone.
4 Wheel to Heal
Supporting wounded and disabled veterans from all branches of the military through offroad therapy.
Do Not Overlook Local Opportunities
Not every good opportunity has a national name. Sometimes the best starting point is local:
- Jeep clubs.
- Fishing clubs.
- Hunting groups.
- Veterans service organizations.
- Elks Lodges.
- VFW and American Legion posts.
- Church groups.
- Volunteer trail crews.
- Search and rescue support groups.
- Public lands stewardship projects.
- State fish and wildlife veteran hunts.
- Local conservation groups.
Sometimes a veteran does not need a formal program. Sometimes he or she just needs an invitation.
“Want to go fishing Saturday?”
“Want to ride along on a trail run?”
“Want to sit by the fire and drink coffee?”
“Want to help us clear brush on a volunteer work day?”
Those simple invitations matter.
A Word to Clubs and Outdoor Leaders
If you are part of a OHV/motorized recreation club, fishing group, hunting camp, trail crew, overlanding group, or public lands organization, you may already have something veterans need. You have access to the outdoors. You have people. You have experience, campfires, trails, radios, maps, rigs, boats, tools, and time.
You do not need to become therapists. In fact, you probably should not try. But you can create space, welcome veterans without making a big production out of it, and make sure they are not alone.
You can offer simple, safe, responsible outdoor experiences. You can listen more than you talk. You can help someone reconnect with the land, with other people, and maybe with themselves.
Keep It Simple
This does not have to be complicated.
Start with one person.
- One ride.
- One fishing trip.
- One hike.
- One campfire.
- One work day.
- One invitation
For some veterans, getting outside is recreation. For others, it is survival. And for many of us, the outdoors is where the noise gets quieter.
Not every veteran heals in a hospital. Some of us heal outside. Let’s find ways to help more veterans find the trail home.
LINKS to Veteran Resources: