Many people take getting outside into the woods or out on the lake for granted. But for many disabled Americans and veterans, actively pursuing their recreational hobbies can be difficult.
Opportunities such as a recent ice fishing event hosted by Courage Incorporated and the D.J. Jacobetti Home for Veterans make accessing hobbies like fishing easier.
“It’s an incredible feeling to see participants regain their love for fishing, camping and just being outside connecting with nature,” said Erik Conradson, executive director of Courage Incorporated. “They’ll flat out tell us, or express directly to us, how good that feels — to be reconnected with nature.
“You’ll hear from some people, ‘I haven’t done this in 30 years.’ I can think of one of our friends. He’s a veteran, became disabled and has challenges from Agent Orange and an amputation and all kinds of things. He asked us, ‘I haven’t caught a northern pike in probably 40 years, and I’d love to go pike fishing.’ And we did. We went and had a heyday pulling in pike. The smile on his face, the feedback he provided to us, is something I’ll remember forever.”
Courage Incorporated works with community groups, veterans homes and other organizations to host similar events, including their recent trip to Lake Independence. The group was even able to send Jacobetti residents home with nine perch from that outing.
“Folks like our friends at the Jacobetti, due to their age or current health conditions and other factors, just don’t have the ability to get outdoors,” Conradson said. “With a group like ours that provides access and equipment and assistance, we’re able to help them take a trip like we did to Lake Independence.”
Another factor that prevents veterans and disabled residents from accessing the outdoors is rising costs for equipment, particularly adaptive gear designed to help people with disabilities participate in activities many others enjoy.
“Reliable and safe camping equipment or gear you need to be able to take someone outdoors is not cheap,” Conradson said. “We’ve established partnerships with local retailers, some of the big-box stores and other partners in the community to help get quality outdoor gear so we have the ability to bring people out safely.
“The other thing, too, is access. Because of the crew that we work with — our volunteers — we all grew up in the Upper Peninsula. We all have our own secret spots and we know some great locations. We check those places out and make a determination: Would this be safe to bring somebody here? And if so, great, let’s tailor an adventure to people.”
Conradson said groups or individuals interested in joining an adventure, volunteering or supporting the nonprofit can find more information online, including details about Courage Incorporated’s upcoming fundraiser in April. Find more information about Courage Inc. here.
On April 18th, Courage Incorporated will host the organization’s annual fundraiser at the River Rock Lanes and Banquet. Follow Courage Incorporated on facebook to keep up with detailed announcements for the event, and other programs.
