Camping Retreat for Veterans and Their Families
December 1, 2023 @ 6:00PM — December 3, 2023 @ 1:00PM Eastern Time (US & Canada)
Carlton Reserve in Venice, FL: 1800 Mabry Carlton Pkwy Venice, FL 34292 Get Directions
![Camping Retreat for Veterans and Their Families image](https://nfg-sofun.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/event/photo/62614/poster_board_Camping_Retreat_Revised_Graphic.png)
Camping Retreat for Veterans & Family
Join Us for A Weekend of Adventure, Comradery, and Self-Discovery!
Being in nature is very healing and helps us unwind, de-stress, and get back to ourselves. Join us in unplugging from everyday stress and connect with nature walking in this beautiful state park in Florida. Come walk or camp, with us in at this beautiful state park in Florida! This camping event is for Veterans and/or their families. Ages 10 and older (unless special permission). During the event, reboot your life and take the 10 Challenges to Service. These are a series of personal empowerment challenges designed specifically for Veterans and Military. Each time you take them, the healing and empowerment goes to deeper levels.
This is a family event. Your spouses and children, ages 10 & older, are welcome to join us. The kids will have a special mentor, Alex White (female veteran) to work with them on the challenges while we walk. When registering a family member, do it under the civilian option unless they are also a Veteran.
Options:
Option #1: Camping - Arrive Friday evening for 2 nights of camping and finish up by Sunday afternoon. We will have the tents all set up with air mattresses and a lantern. You will need to bring your own bedroll and pillow. We will hike Saturday and Sunday in groups. Breakfast and Lunch is provided. Bring backpack snacks for lunch on the trail. If you want to use your own gear, let us know. Be prepared to walk on uneven terrain for approximately 3-5 miles per day and camp overnight. The Long Walk Home will provide tents, air mattresses, backpack if you need one, trekking poles if needed, sit pads, chairs, other camping gear plus breakfast and dinner. You only need to bring your sleeping bag or blankets and pillow and packable lunches. If you bring your own gear, we need to know.
Option #2: Walking Only - Arrive Saturday morning and finish up by late Saturday afternoon. You will be guided along the way to complete all 10 Challenges in one day. You will need to bring backpack snacks for lunch on the trail. We will provide water. If you don't have a backpack, you may borrow one of ours. Be prepared to walk on uneven terrain for approximately 3-7 miles.
Option #3: Come Sit With Us, at the Campsite - Join us for comradery at the campsite. No physical activity required!
All Options: Bring packable lunches, with items like protein bars, beef jerky, or peanut butter and crackers. We have trekking poles, sit pads, and backpacks but you may bring your own.
Registration required due to limited spaces!
The attending group will be divided into squads, with squad leaders. If you are one of our mentors, please let us know if you would like to lead a squad.
Contact terri@thelongwalkhome.org if you have any questions.
What Past Participants Have to Say:
"It was great to get outside, be in nature, and get away from technology for a weekend. Thank you."
"The peace of the natural setting combined with exercise lead to a clearheaded understanding of the power of change and hope for the future. While the Zoom class was a good way to begin to understand the 10 Challenges, the hike/camp method provided a much higher degree of accomplishment and peace."
Pricing:
Option #1 Camping - Veteran/Military Ticket Price: This is a $50.00 refundable deposit for Veterans or Military. The $50.00 is refunded after the event.
Option #1 Camping - Civilian Ticket Price: The fee is $50.00 for the entire weekend of adventure, all inclusive. If you cancel or don’t finish, the deposit is forfeited.
Option #2 Walking Civilians: $25.00 refundable deposit. This amount will be refunded after the personal empowerment-10 Challenges to Service are completed. If you cancel or don’t finish, the deposit is forfeited.