Veterans find connection, camaraderie through free outdoor adventures

For Tucson area veterans, active duty service members and first responders, a free off road outing can offer more than a day away from routine. It can provide time to reconnect with other people who understand military life, regain confidence outdoors and take a break from the pressures that follow them home. That is the goal behind Battlefield to Backwoods, Veteran Outdoors, a nonprofit led by Air Force veteran Joel Burdett and supported by community partners in Tucson and beyond.

Burdett’s own path to the organization began after a difficult deployment. In 2016, an older veteran invited him on a hunting trip. The experience helped Burdett find joy and connection at a time when he needed both, and it showed him how powerful it can be when someone creates an opening for another veteran. He later joined with a team made up mostly of combat veterans to build similar opportunities for others.

The group received its IRS determination as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in November 2024. Burdett and his colleagues decided to begin operating fully on Jan. 1, 2025, and quickly expanded their plans. The organization has scheduled outings expected to serve 248 active duty service members, veterans and first responders across 11 states this year. Burdett said the group is on course to meet its broader target of reaching 250 people.

One of those events took place in Tucson, where Burdett said every available seat was funded. Community partners helped cover the cost of the outing, with additional support arranged within days. That backing is essential because the organization’s promise is to offer trips at no cost to participants. The activities are not presented simply as recreation. Burdett describes them as a chance to pause, reset and refocus before returning to the stress of everyday life.

Tyler Rivas, who spent 10 years in Air Force security forces, said the group setting is a central part of the benefit. Outdoor events can help older veterans who may have more difficulty getting out but still want to participate. They also give veterans a way to face personal struggles alongside people who understand the challenges of service. For Rivas, the group becomes a family, a place where no one has to feel that they are dealing with hardship alone.

Sommer Noethlich, who recently retired after 27 years in the Air Force, said being in nature can support mental health and help veterans reconnect with themselves and others. She attended a Tucson off road ride with her children, hoping they would see the bonds veterans build and how those relationships can lead to community involvement through organizations such as the American Legion. Her message to veterans considering an outing is to try something outside their comfort zone, even if taking the first step feels difficult.

Burdett encourages veterans to say yes, then bring along a battle buddy, fellow airman, sailor or another trusted friend. He sees participation as something that can spread from one person to another. A veteran who benefits from an outing can help another veteran discover the same opportunity, strengthening the network of support beyond a single trip. The events are open to active duty troops, veterans and first responders, and the organization relies on donations and community partnerships to keep them free.

Finding those opportunities can be a challenge in the first place. Navy veteran Theresa Walters encountered that problem while looking for outdoor activities she could share with her father, a Vietnam veteran and outdoorsman. Walters grew up in northern Minnesota and served as an aviation mechanic, so outdoor recreation was already familiar to her. She discovered that there was no central place where veterans could search for free, veteran specific programs, and her personal list eventually grew to more than 100 organizations.

Walters turned that list into US Vet Connect and the National Veterans Outdoor Resource Hub, an online directory of programs across the country. The hub now includes more than 270 organizations offering activities such as hiking, hunting, fishing, powered paragliding and even llama adventures. Walters said the aim is to help veterans find joy through outdoor experiences while avoiding the frustration of inactive programs or broken links. Donations support hosting and technology improvements, with a goal of expanding the directory to more than 500 vetted groups. For Tucson veterans looking for a place to begin, Burdett is creating outings in the field, while Walters is making it easier to find them.