Redheaded Stranger
Silver Member
To add to Sue's thread about the warrior programme, there is also a great group here that takes Veterans kayaking. It originated at Walter Reed Hospital in DC and has sprouted 26 chapters around the US.
It is good for Veterans and anyone who wants to volunteer. Our local chapter has Veterans, volunteers and Veterans who volunteer. Any age Veteran (male and female) from any branch is welcome and there is no cost to the Veterans, unless they want to buy any equipment of their own (but at least here, the kayaks and gear for Veterans are provided for the trips). There are special adaptive paddling options for any Veteran who has any physical issues or who has lost or has limited use of any limbs.
Being out on the water is very relaxing and the Veterans seem to really like the opportunity to try kayaking when they might not get a chance otherwise. Some also say it is a legal and "safe" way to get a rush which lots of our Veterans report missing after leaving the military. It is low key and you don't have to talk to anyone if you don't want to. Some trips are just a few people, some are larger. The trips range from flat water (lakes, ponds, pools) to mild moving water to high risk whitewater kayaking.
Veterans can get into it by contacting a nearby chapter directly. While local VAs sometimes send Veterans in treatment to trips, this is not a VA controlled or sponsored program. The website lists all the chapters and how to reach them. There is also the opportunity to help create a local chapter in your area if one doesn't exist. I would also think it easily done in other countries, depending on the availability of places to kayak.
If anyone is interested, send me a message and I'll send the link. I wasn't sure about posting it here in case that was some violation of the rules.
Red
It is good for Veterans and anyone who wants to volunteer. Our local chapter has Veterans, volunteers and Veterans who volunteer. Any age Veteran (male and female) from any branch is welcome and there is no cost to the Veterans, unless they want to buy any equipment of their own (but at least here, the kayaks and gear for Veterans are provided for the trips). There are special adaptive paddling options for any Veteran who has any physical issues or who has lost or has limited use of any limbs.
Being out on the water is very relaxing and the Veterans seem to really like the opportunity to try kayaking when they might not get a chance otherwise. Some also say it is a legal and "safe" way to get a rush which lots of our Veterans report missing after leaving the military. It is low key and you don't have to talk to anyone if you don't want to. Some trips are just a few people, some are larger. The trips range from flat water (lakes, ponds, pools) to mild moving water to high risk whitewater kayaking.
Veterans can get into it by contacting a nearby chapter directly. While local VAs sometimes send Veterans in treatment to trips, this is not a VA controlled or sponsored program. The website lists all the chapters and how to reach them. There is also the opportunity to help create a local chapter in your area if one doesn't exist. I would also think it easily done in other countries, depending on the availability of places to kayak.
If anyone is interested, send me a message and I'll send the link. I wasn't sure about posting it here in case that was some violation of the rules.
Red
