Starting in June, free, week-long courses will be available to small groups of veterans who may be encountering challenges as a result their experiences in the army.
Marc D'Astous, 29, who served as an infantryman in Afghanistan, helped develop the program along with another young veteran. The courses use the challenges of the outdoors to help veterans reintegrate into the community.
D'Astous said that when he returned home from Afghanistan to Canmore, Alberta,hiking in the mountains with another veteran helped him adapt to the stark switch from a war zone to civvy street.
“I've always gone to the mountains when I needed a break or when I needed to recharge my batteries, kind of strip away all the excess and just look at what's really going on inside,” he told CBC News.
“We come out the other end of a war, or service, or peacekeeping duty and it takes a while to digest what you've gone through. Having an opportunity to reconnect in a wilderness setting sometimes opens up a lot of that dialogue and makes you realize you're not the only one.”
The program is designed to help participants build a supportive community with other veterans and facilitate discussion. Participants would be able to ice-climb, ski-tour, backpack, canoe or dog sled while enjoying the camaraderie of fellow veterans.
The program, which is funded by the Royal Canadian Legion, will be run by Outward Bound instructors. A wilderness centre near Canmore, Outward Bound was initially founded to help young British soldiers build the inner resources necessary to survive the rigours of war.
Although various existing mental health programs and agencies provide professional assistance for those who seek help, many veterans do not avail of them, according to the legion. The wilderness program will help bridge that gap.
Julian Norris, director of Outward Bound in western Canada, told the Calgary Sun that spending time together in the Rockies can help veterans heal.
“Every Canadian military veteran knows of a comrade who still carries the burden of their experiences and their service. Those scars are often not visible,” Norris said.
“Part of this adventure is a chance to connect deeply with other veterans, to begin talking about things that you may never talk about in your day-to-day life, with people who understand, that care, and have been through a similar journey and perhaps show you a way forward.”
He said the program also provides an opportunity for veterans to connect with the landscape and feel like they really have returned home.
“They fought for this landscape, this place. Coming back to this place, it's home, it's part of the journey,” he said.
Follow-up programs include training for veterans to become outdoor guides and referrals to support services. The wilderness program, which is also available to reservists, will eventually include disabled veterans.
