Veterans Path to Hope Outdoors

Veterans Path to Hope Outdoors was created to support the mission of transforming and enriching lives through hosting recreational outdoor activities for military veterans, active-duty service members, and their families.

Our program embraces each veteran’s unique barriers and challenges, utilizing evidenced-based interventions to meet their needs and goals. The Outdoors program strives to help each service member through their healing journey by enhancing physical, cognitive, social, emotional, and leisure skills. Our goal is to offer necessary support in creative ways to boost quality of life for our service members and their families!

Paralyzed Veterans of America

It does not matter if you are a first-time angler or have years of experience reeling in the big bass, the PVA Bass Tour is for you! Held at lakes and rivers known for their excellent fishing, the PVA Bass Tour accommodates anglers interested in fishing from a boat or who enjoy the serenity of fishing from the bank. We host both an Open division (boat) and a bank division to support all anglers.You don’t have a boat? That is ok! We have volunteer boat captains experienced in fishing the PVA Bass Tournament Series. Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) offers a trapshoot tournament series consisting of several trap shoot events each year. Trapshooting is a popular and challenging sport that can be an exciting activity for competitive and recreational shooters. The sport involves shooting at clay targets that are launched in the air from a machine, known as a “trap house,” at different angles and speeds. PVA’s trapshoot competitions consist of 300 targets, including 100 Singles and Handicap/Yardage and 50 pairs of Doubles. This sport requires a combination of skill, precision, and focus, making it an exciting and fun way to spend time outdoors. Our shooting events are open to the community and allow for wheelchair users and able-bodied shooters to compete as equals.

Wounded Warrior Outdoors

Wounded Warrior Outdoors, Inc. is a non-profit organization exclusively founded to provide wounded servicemen and women with therapeutic outdoor adventures across North America. WWO gives deserving Active Duty Warriors in transition the opportunity of a lifetime in the wilderness location of their choice. We call them “Adventures Enabled.” Their adventure could take them bear hunting in the mountains of British Columbia, Canada, on alligator hunts or fishing excursions in the Gulf Coast region of Florida or deer hunting in Texas. During their experience, they will participate in therapeutic activities such as backpacking, trail expeditions and numerous social interactions.

Wounded Warrior Outdoors provides this all-inclusive adventure at absolutely no cost to the servicemen and women, their families or the government. Transportation, lodging, meals and documentation of the adventure is provided free of charge. It is because of this arrangement that Wounded Warrior Outdoors relies entirely on private donations. Administration, general offices and personnel services are donated.

In order to maintain this highly effective organization, we need the support of private individuals and corporations. At Wounded Warrior Outdoors, over ninety percent of all donations directly benefit these Active Duty Warriors in transition.

Fifty wounded, but active, members of the military are selected to participate each year. Our host facilities are of the highest quality and offer all the comforts of home. WWO also provides complete outfitting including gear, clothing and field transport. Even taxidermy services are provided at no charge.

Most important to the program, Active Duty Warriors in transition are provided with all the accessibility and equipment necessary to make it an adventure that is truly memorable and one in which they can participate fully. No matter the individual’s disability, our focus in on ability and making sure their adventure becomes the memory of a lifetime.

All military branches have participated in our program and we have many relationships with military hospitals that help us facilitate our programs.

Wounded Heroes Hunting Camp

A Service for Our Military Service Members

Offering our wounded veterans the opportunity to get outdoors and enjoy a hunting or fishing trip with all expenses paid, our group focuses on uniting fellow Wounded Heroes on our outdoor adventures. On our trips, our Heroes create memories and friendships that will last a lifetime. Wounded Heroes Hunting Camp is here for our Heroes, and we hope that you will share in our passion and commitment to do what we can for the brave men and women who have sacrificed to protect our freedoms. We believe that healing begins on the hunt! ​​

Touch of Nature Veteran’s Adventures

WHAT IS VETERAN ADVENTURES?

Veteran Adventures is a veterans program started by SIU’s Touch of Nature Environmental Center and SIU Veteran Services which aims to accomplish the following:

  • Provide community building for veterans and current military personnel.
  • Present challenging and adventurous opportunities to strengthen bonds between veterans and current military personnel.
  • Show support and gratitude for the sacrifice that our servicemen and women have made.
  • Provide veterans and current military personnel with alternatives for mental health assistance without the stigma of traditional mental health avenues.
  • Foster a healthier veteran population.

Touch of Nature Environmental Center

Southern Illinois University

Mail Code 6888
Carbondale, IL 62901
618-453-1121 | F: 618-453-1188
tonec@siu.edu

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE IN VETERAN ADVENTURES?

Veteran Adventures is open to all Post 9/11 veterans, student veterans, and members of the National Guard, the Reserves and the Registered Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC).

Take a Vet Fishing

Our Mission Statement

To honor, comfort and assist our PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and DAV (Disabled American Veteran) soldiers.

Our Vision

Take a Vet Fishing is a 501 (C) (3) not for profit organization that was created in 2011 to provide emotional support and rehabilitation to those who serve our great nation every day. The mission is simple, to show these men and women how much they mean to us and support them and their families with (emotional) PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and (Physical) DAV (Disabled American Veterans) outings and trips.

Our Purpose

Our slogan is “A day of giving back” and is the core of our mission. When our brave service men a women return from overseas, as a nation, we have been failing to show these heroes our appreciation. A shockingly high number of service members are returning with injuries and even the soldiers without physical wounds are having a hard time adjusting back into the “real world”. These “Hero’s” have given so much of themselves for our freedom. Reaching out and offering a “Thank You” with a hand shake, is the very least we can do. At Take a Vet Fishing, we take it a step further. Not only do we show these hero’s our gratitude and shake their hand, we hand them a fishing rod and ease their minds back into civilization.

Support Up Veteran Ventures

At Support Up our mission is to provide the opportunity for veterans to get into the outdoors and on ventures; from camping to hunting and fishing trips.

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