Brain Injury Awareness Month: Go Outdoors with BOEC

At the BOEC, we serve a very diverse population including those living with an injury to the brain. The programs the BOEC curates help participants enjoy outdoor recreation with a therapeutic approach. One of the groups that we host are military veterans who have sustained brain injuries while serving our country. According to the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center (DVBIC) nearly 414,000 TBIs have occurred among U.S. service members worldwide between 2000 and late 2019 and more than 185,000 Veterans who use VA for their health care have been diagnosed with at least one TBI.?

A combat wounded veteran and Move United Warfighter Ambassador reflected on a BOEC summer veteran program stating, “The BOEC guides and office staff I have interacted with for the Ruby Horse Thief Heroic Family trip as well as past events have been very professional, friendly and helpful. These multi-day river trips are exceptionally therapeutic for me personally, and really help with my brain injury, and I am very appreciative for the opportunity to participate in them.”?

BOEC’s year-round Heroic Military Program, open to veterans, active-duty military, and members of the Guard and Reserve, provides programs and events designed to bring families together and help America’s veterans with their recovery and healing process. Additionally, this program provides opportunities for these individuals to find connections with other veterans dealing with similar circumstances. We are proud to offer both summer and winter events at low or no cost to active military members and veterans from all over the United States.?

One member of the 2022 Operation TBI Freedom - Weekend Family Retreat explained their experience this way, "The BOEC team is a true inspiration and blessing. Every member of the team showed such positivity, patience, caring, compassion and commitment to the families that were present. Their gregarious attitudes and attention to details to every individual adult or child was amazing. Every BOEC member I had the privilege to speak to one on one was inspirational. The entire team was and is at the top of their game.”?

Last summer we welcomed many veterans and their families for BOEC’s open enrollment programs and launched a new partnership for military families in collaboration with Craig Hospital called Operation TBI Freedom, for veterans who have endured a mild to moderate traumatic brain injury from their service. These programs will be continued in this summer’s offerings including mountain retreats, river trips, and family retreats that feature exhilarating adventure-based activities. These retreats offer a convivial environment for participants to relax and enjoy new experiences.

Another military member shares this experience, “Because every aspect of the trip was coordinated seamlessly, I was able to have tons of fun and unwind like we were back in the military. It’s been a few years since I’ve been able to joke around and play with people. Our particular group bonded quickly and I am grateful for the opportunity to make new friends and reset from a stressful daily life where chronic pain makes laughing a rare event.”

During the winter months, the BOEC provides alpine skiing and snowboarding at Breckenridge, Keystone, and Copper Mountain Ski Resorts, and snowshoeing/Nordic ski lessons at the Breckenridge and Frisco Nordic Centers. Over the winter we welcomed back many of our larger military winter camps including Team Semper Fi, Adaptive Adventures Military Camp, Wounded Warriors Project, and The Not Forgotten. Throughout the whole season BOEC was able to provide ski and snowboard lessons to veterans.

Anthony, from The Not Forgotten veteran organization in the UK, who skied with the BOEC Adaptive Ski Program in February states, “The Not Forgotten is the only Charity not to judge me but actually see me. Skiing has helped my damaged brain. I am able to think clearly and feel normal. Something I just can’t do alone.”

For more information on upcoming programming please visit: https://boec.org/veterans-program/?

2023 Season Schedule

San Juan Veteran-Only River Trip:

June 11th-19th, 2023

Ruby/Horsethief & Westwater Family River Trip:

July 29th - August 3rd, 2023

Women’s Ruby/Horsethief River Trip:

August 28th - September 2nd, 2023

Labyrinth Canyon River Trip with Telluride Adaptive Sports Program:

September 11th - September 16th, 2023

REGISTRATION FOR SUMMER PROGRAMS:

Registration is currently open and applications will be accepted up until two weeks prior to program start date.?

Please contact Claire DiCola at 970-453-6422 or [email protected] with questions or concerns.