FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Meredith Leyva
(757) 410-4926 or meredith@operationhomefront.net
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Operation Homefront announced it will partner with Outward Bound to enable returning Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) veterans to participate in Outward Bound’s renowned wilderness expeditions at no cost.
As one of the largest providers of emergency services to wounded warriors and returning veterans, Operation Homefront is directly reaching out to veterans to raise awareness of this unique and life-changing opportunity.
“As an Army veteran and Outward Bound alum, I have personally experienced the transformative power of the Outward Bound wilderness experience,” said Mark Smith, president and CEO of Operation Homefront. “I am delighted that we are partnering with Outward Bound to offer this exceptional opportunity to people who so richly deserve it.”
Two types of courses are available, each offering wilderness expeditions year-round. Open-Enrollment Courses are for individual veterans or service members who choose to sign up on existing courses, attend as individuals and meet other veterans and service members from across the nation. Custom Courses are tailored to the specific needs of groups. These programs are free to veterans of the war in Iraq and Afghanistan and service members. All costs, including travel to the expedition, are fully supported by a $3.5 million grant from the Military Family Outdoor Initiative Project, a joint project of the Sierra Club and The Sierra Club Foundation. Disabled American Veterans Charitable Service Trust provided additional funds.
The mission of Outward Bound is to inspire character development and self-discovery in people of all ages and walks of life through challenge and adventure. It works to encourage them to achieve more than they ever thought possible, to show compassion for others and to actively engage in creating a better world. For more than two decades, Outward Bound has served thousands of military veterans from the Vietnam conflict. The new program is designed to help newer veterans improve self-confidence and skills for reintegration into civilian life and non-combat zone redeployment. Additional benefits include stronger communication and relational skills in a supportive environment that builds trust and camaraderie.
“Outward Bound was forged in the fires of World War II, and our character development, leadership, and service curricula remain as relevant today as then,” said Mickey Freeman, Outward Bound’s chief operating officer. “Our board, administrative staff and field instructors are passionate about the opportunity to make a difference with more veterans and to help welcome them home with a powerful, transformative experience.”
For more information on registering for the program, please contact call 1-866-669-2362, ext. 8387 or veterans@outwardbound.org, or visit http://www.outwardboundwilderness.org/veterans.html.
For more information on Operation Homefront, please visit www.operationhomefront.net or contact Meredith Leyva at (757) 410-4926 or meredith@operationhomefront.net.
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About Operation Homefront & CinCHouse.com
What is today Operation Homefront began in 2001 as a military spouse-generated idea. In response to the need for the families of deployed service members, CinCHouse.com members (military wives and women in uniform) created the project that has evolved into a major nonprofit charity serving 30 military communities. Today CinCHouse.com operates as a program as part of the nonprofit Operation Homefront family. From a good idea to a great organization, Operation Homefront understands and takes care of the needs of the military community.
About Outward Bound
Founded on the vision of renowned youth educator, Kurt Hahn, in 1941, Outward Bound has expanded into a nation-wide network of hands-on experiential learning courses for both young and old. Today the organization serves 70,000 students and teachers annually in the US and has over 500,000 alumni from its wilderness adventure programs.
Who is Eligible: Under this program, all Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) veterans, including current and former members of the Active and Reserve Components of the United States military. It doesn’t matter what your current military status is (active, inactive, discharged, retired) as long as you deployed in support of OEF or OIF combat operations while in the military.
