For military veterans, reintegrating into civilian life often comes with unique challenges, including managing stress, navigating mental health concerns, maintaining social and familial connections, and rebuilding a sense of purpose.
Outdoor, Adventure and Experiential Programming provides veterans with transformative experiences that foster personal growth, social connectedness, resilience, and well-being. These programs create space for veterans to connect with nature, engage in physical activity, and develop camaraderie with peers who share similar life experiences. Through activities like hiking, paddling, climbing, team-based challenges, and nature-based experiences, veterans can find healing, reduce feelings of isolation, and restore their sense of identity and purpose. These programs for Veterans can be helpful as a stand-alone service or complimentary to a Veteran’s medical and mental health care.
Publications
Leonard, A., Bettmann, J. E., & Blumenthal. E. (2024). Barriers for veterans accessing outdoor programming: An examination of website representation. Journal of Experiential Education. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/10538259231225196
Bettmann, J. E., Leonard, A., & Blumenthal, E. (2023). Barriers to access and website representation of racially-diverse veterans accessing veteran outdoor programs. Therapeutic Recreation Journal, LVII(4), 309-320. https://doi.org/10.18666/TRJ-2023-V57-I4-11955
Bettmann, J. E, Anderson, I., Makouske, J., & Hanley, A. W. (2022). Mental health outcome of peer-led therapeutic adventure for military veterans. Journal of Experiential Education, 45(3), 295-315. https://doi.org/10.1177/10538259211049535
Bennett, J. L., Craig, P., Aytur, S., Thompson, T., Roscoe, H. S., & Gravink, J. (2022). Community-based recreational therapy for veterans with behavioral health disorders: Impacts on quality of life, participation, and happiness. Community Mental Health Journal, 58(8), 1477-1486. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-022-00962-6
Hermann, T. S., Bettmann, J. E., Sweeney, C., Marchand, W. R., Carlson, J., & Hanley, A. W. (2022). Military veterans’ motivations and barriers to outdoor recreation participation. Journal of Leisure Studies, 42(4), 581-598. https://doi.org/10.1080/02614367.2022.2125556
Bettmann, J. E., Prince, K. C., Ganesh, K., Rugo, K. F., Bryan. A.O., Bryan, C. J., Rozek, D. C., & Leifker, F. R. (2021). The effect of time outdoors on veterans receiving treatment for PTSD. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 77(9), 2041-2056. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.23139
Leonard, A., Hoellger, L., Bettmann, J. E., Kouris, G., & Ganesh, K. (2021). Sierra Club Military Outdoors: A nature-based intervention for female veterans. In D. L. Dustin, K. S., Bricker, D. A. Tysor, & M. T .J. Brownlee (Eds.), Outdoor recreation and our military family: Pathways to recovery. Sagamore Venture.
Bettmann, J. E., Anstadt, G., & Kolaski, A. Z. (2020). Therapeutic adventure for military veterans with mental illness: A conceptual argument. Ecopsychology, 12(4), 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1089/eco.2019.0045
Craig, P. J., Alger, D. M., Bennett, J., & Martin, T. (2020). The transformative nature of fly-fishing for veterans and military personnel with PTSD [Special issue on mental health]. Therapeutic Recreation Journal, 54(2), 150-172. https://doi.org/10.18666/TRJ-2020-V54-I2-9965
Bettmann, J. E., Scheinfeld, D., Prince, K., Garland, E. L, & Ovrom, K. V. (2018). Changes in psychiatric symptoms and psychological processes among veterans participating in a therapeutic adventure program. Psychological Services, 16(4), 525-534. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/ser0000213
Scheinfeld, D. E., Rochlen, A. B., & Russell, M. L. (2017). The impact of Outward Bound programming on psychosocial functioning for male military veterans. Psychology of Men & Masculinity, 18(4), 400–408. https://doi.org/10.1037/men0000066
Bennett, J. L., Piatt, J. A., & Van Puymbroeck, M. (2017). Outcomes of a therapeutic fly-fishing program for veterans with combat-related disabilities: A community-based rehabilitation initiative. Community Mental Health Journal, 53(7), 756-765. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-017-0124-9
Bennett, J. L., Lundberg, N. R., Zabriskie, R. B., & Eggett, D. L. (2014). Addressing posttraumatic stress among Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and significant others: An intervention utilizing sport and recreation. Therapeutic Recreation Journal, 48(1), 74-93.
Bennett, J. L., Van Puymbroeck, M., Piatt, J. A., & Rydell, R. J. (2014). Veterans’ perceptions of benefits and important program components of a therapeutic fly-fishing program. Therapeutic Recreation Journal, 48(2), 169-187.
Vella, E., Milligan, B., & Bennett, J. L. (2013). Participation in outdoor recreation program predicts improved psychosocial well-being among veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder: A pilot study. Military Medicine, 178, 254-260. https://doi.org/10.7205/MILMED-D-12-00308
Mowatt, R., & Bennett, J. L. (2011). War narratives: Veteran stories, PTSD effects and therapeutic fly-fishing. [Special issue on Veteran Issues]. Therapeutic Recreation Journal, 45(4), 286-308.
Lundberg, N. R., Bennett, J. L., & Smith, S. (2011). Outcomes of adaptive sports and recreation participation among veterans returning from combat with acquired disability. Therapeutic Recreation Journal, 45(2), 105-120.
