Veterans Programs
PATHWAY TO HEALING
The journey home can be difficult. Let us help.
Since 1983, the Hurricane Island Outward Bound Veterans Program has helped thousands of service members make the difficult transition from active duty back into civilian life.
Working with partners in the armed services, we recruit recently discharged and active-duty service members from across the country, aiming to get them on course as soon as possible upon their return home. Our wilderness courses draw on the healing benefits of teamwork and challenge through the use of the natural world—something well aligned with vets’ experiences—and provide great opportunities for veterans to learn new skills, challenge themselves, and enjoy time working together with other vets.
Thanks to the generous support of our donors, Hurricane Island Outward Bound School is able to offer these programs free of charge for any veteran or active service member. If you're interested in helping to support this work, join us today.
What to Expect
These expeditions are designed to be fun and challenging. They are suited for those in good physical condition and are opportunities for veterans to:
- Re-experience many of the positive aspects of military service through challenge and teamwork
- Develop skills to assist them in adjusting to life at home
- Candidly discuss obstacles faced by veterans
- Rediscover their physical and emotional strengths
- Help translate military values and commitment to service in a civilian environment
- Enjoy a unique and inspiring adventure surrounded by fellow veterans in the beauty of the country for which they have served
Results and Outcomes
Reintegrating back into civilian life can be profoundly disorienting and challenging. Our participants report greater self-confidence, and experience healthier and more balanced lives after course.
- Improved mental health
- Enhanced sense of social camaraderie and peer support
- Decreased anxiety and depression
- Expanded interest in self-discovery
- Heightened interest in getting necessary support
The expedition may only last a week, but the strength of the experience lasts a lifetime.
Thank you so much for your role in making the Florida Keys sailing course possible for me. The course was a great way to help me connect with other veterans and overcome some of the daily struggles that creep up on you when you let your guard down. As a result of the course, I feel compelled to minimize distractions and focus on what is most important to me—my family. I encourage you to keep up the good work because there is no doubt in my mind that you are a positive force for change in peoples lives.
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