Why R&R Outdoors?
If you served or are currently serving in the Armed Forces, congratulations, you are part of the 1% of the United States that signed a check due and payable for your life.
In 2014, Veterans R&R conducted a pilot test to potentially launch a program with a mission of engaging Veterans, Active Duty Service Members and their immediate families through outdoor activities. Our first events included hunting and fishing outings. The overwhelming response was so amazing that Veterans R&R Outdoors Program was officially launched.
Our Outdoors Program is designed to provide Veterans with an exhilarating, challenging, and rewarding outdoors experience, while connecting them to other Veterans, Active Duty Service Members, Military Families, as well as professionals in the civilian sector.
Based on our own experiences and the results of our pilot, these outings helped boost confidence, self esteem, and provide struggling Veterans with the hope that they can live active and productive lives. Therapists have termed this “social reintegration”.
The suicide rate for Veterans is roughly double the rate of those who never served. The VA’s National Center for PTSD reports that roughly 20% of Iraqi and Enduring Freedom Veterans and 30% of Vietnam Veterans suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
As of 2014, 24 US Military Veterans or Active Duty Service Members commit suicide per day. That is up from 22 in 2012.
Studies have proven that connected Veterans are far less likely to take their own lives.
As we grow, R&R Outdoors will expand to include a variety of activities designed with the same goal in mind, to bring Veterans, Active Duty, Military Families and caring civilian professionals together in a stress-free environment to connect with one another.
Our Goal
Through our fun activities, we are giving Veterans the confidence to get out of their houses, develop new civilian and Veteran relationships, ample opportunities for camaraderie, and the freedom to go about their lives as they choose.
Veterans R&R Outdoors Program strives to provide a safe, relaxing environment where trusting relationships are built at every outing.
As Veterans become more trusting and confident, we assist in connecting them to other outstanding Veteran Servicing Organizations that specialize in other services they might need (e.g. mental health, human development, financial, educational, etc). This assistance provides a vehicle for the next step in treatment or in the road to integrating to a civilian lifestyle.
Ultimately, as Veterans become reintegrated and productive in society, we encourage them to be a mentor to other Veterans that may be entering into one of our programs as well.
Past Activities