When we set out to create a nonprofit dedicated to acknowledging and supporting U.S. veterans and service members, we knew we wanted to focus on creating outdoor experiences for these American heroes.
Why? Because connecting with nature is one of the best ways to heal – both physically and mentally.
Let’s dive into more about why that is, and what the Hero-Hunts Foundation does to make it happen for local men and women who have served our country.
4 Ways Outdoor Experiences Help Veterans Heal
Getting outside and experiencing all Mother Nature has to offer can be incredibly rewarding and healing for anyone.
Fresh air. Exercise. Natural beauty. What’s not to love?
Outdoor experiences have been proven to be particularly beneficial to those who have experienced trauma or gone through difficult or mentally taxing situations, such as veterans and service members.
There are several studies that have found that outdoor recreation and therapy can improve the psychological wellbeing of veterans, including those with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
How, exactly? Here are four ways getting outdoors can help our American heroes heal.
1. Getting outside helps lower stress and depression
It isn’t a secret that outdoor experiences can improve one’s quality of life through increased attention spans, better sleep, lowered stress and anxiety, and more.
Many attribute this to the fact that natural environments do not overwhelm the senses – unlike fast-paced urban areas, stimuli are more limited in nature. When veterans and service members are able to get a break from hypervigilance and decrease reactivity to sensory inputs, they are more likely to relax.
In short, getting outside provides an opportunity to slow down, take a breath, and center oneself.
As a result, enjoying the outdoors, even for short periods of time, can decrease cortisol levels and improve emotional regulation, bringing peace to those who experience it.
2. Outdoor experiences provide physical exercise and healing
Beyond the mental benefits to getting outside, many outdoor activities also promote physical healing through exercise.
Whether hunting, hiking, fishing, sailing, biking, or even gardening, many outdoor experiences encourage veterans and service members to move their bodies. Through these opportunities, they can build strength, improve heart and lung health, get help with chronic pain, and even recover from physical injuries.
3. Outdoor activities are opportunities to learn something new
This study found that taking part in outdoor activities provides an opportunity for veterans and service members to learn something new. And in learning a new skill, they may be “distracted from everyday concerns,” giving them the opportunity to better face new challenges, solve problems, and find solutions rather than resorting to “avoidant coping modes to overcome difficulties.”
Because participating in outdoor experiences places focus on learning a new skill, veterans are also less likely to experience shame or stigma than when experiencing active treatment for PTSD. And learning new skills can help facilitate a sense of identity and purpose!
4. Finding a community through outdoor experiences
Finally, veterans and service members who take part in outdoor experiences paired with social interaction have the added benefit of building community.
According to this study, joining a group of peers who face common challenges and share a common understanding can create a feeling of safety and community for veterans. This sense of community helps these men and women form support systems and decrease feelings of isolation, which, in turn, can improve quality of life.
Get Outside with the Hero-Hunts Foundation
For these four reasons – and more – the Hero-Hunts Foundation is dedicated to providing outdoor experiences to veterans and service members.
This includes our annual Hunt, which gives American heroes the opportunity to spend the day in the woods, connecting with nature and with each other. We’re hoping to expand our Hunt each year to include more hunters!
If you’re interested in learning more about and signing up for our next Hunt, click here.
We also host the Hero-Hunts Outdoorsman Expo at Harvest Ridge Winery. The Expo is filled with exciting vendors as well as a variety of live demonstrations, all centered around outdoor activities. Save the date for the next Expo, which will take place on Saturday, March 20, 2027!
How You Can Help
Do you want to be a part of providing outdoor experiences for veterans and service members? From donating online to volunteering to attending an event, there are several ways you can get involved with the Hero-Hunts Foundation and our mission.
Help us grow so that we can connect more American heroes with nature and healing!