Vail Veterans Foundation, Inc.

Golf is more than just a sport for many wounded service members. Golf enhances rehabilitation by providing a unique opportunity for camaraderie and allows Veterans to build a lifelong skill set that includes concentration, emotional stability, balance, and coordination. The Golf in the Rockies program provides wounded Veterans with five days of an unforgettable golf experience. Participants play several championship golf courses and attend golf clinics provided by PGA teaching professionals. The program encourages participants to build relationships with others over a shared passion. Participants depart Vail with improved golf skills and a newly developed community of support.

Enduring the recovery process after a severe injury has a profound effect not only on the Veteran, but also on their family. Often, the whole family experiences stress, as they discover their “new normal.” Recognizing this challenge, the Winter Family Program provides an opportunity for
the family to reconnect in a setting outside of the clinical environment. Wounded Veterans and family members benefit from four full days of ski and snowboard lessons with Professional Ski & Snowboard Instructors of America. Activities allow for time and attention to be spent on each person, giving the family unit a respite from their day-to-day responsibilities. Families depart Vail feeling reinvigorated and inspired, with new skill sets learned together that may be carried on well into the future.

During the Winter Mountain Adventure, wounded Veterans enjoy four days of private adaptive ski and snowboard lessons with certified Professional Ski & Snowboard Instructors of America. Through this intensive time on the mountain, Veterans successfully learn new athletic skills and gain confidence. When participants reach the top of the mountain, it is symbolic of their ability to accomplish anything, despite a severe injury. Program activities are carefully constructed to strengthen relationships, while building mentorship opportunities. Wounded Veterans and their guests are able to connect with peers at a similar stage in the recovery process, as well as those who have already surmounted similar challenges. Through the Winter Mountain Adventure, participants create lasting memories and build a tight-knit, lifelong community of vital encouragement and mutual support.

Military service injuries often require the assistance of a full-time caregiver. Due to the time and energy required to provide 24-hour care for a loved one, the caregiver commonly departs their career and abandons their personal goals. The Military Caregiver Retreat is offered annually, providing Military Caregivers with an opportunity to take part in professionally guided wellness courses, nutrition & empowerment trainings, yoga, meditation, and therapeutic outdoor adventures. Participants confront their deepest challenges and re-engage with their personal goals and desires. Their time in Vail promotes relaxation, rejuvenation, and connection to peers facing similar challenges.

This three-day training program focuses on performance psychology, exercise physiology, and nutrition. Participants learn how to expand their physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual energy in order to sustain increased engagement, performance, and resiliency. The training program assists wounded Veterans in acknowledging their “old” story, while helping them to identify their “new” story for future success outside of the military.

Resiliency Training is a follow-up course to Veterans Path to Success, hosted in Vail, CO and led by Johnson & Johnson Human Performance Institute coaches. This training allows participants to approach stress management in an innovative and proactive way. Instead of avoiding stressful situations, participants learn how to strategically manage stress and plan for adequate recovery in order to increase resiliency. The Resiliency Training provides participants with tools to embrace stress and use it to their advantage as a tactic to maximize performance.

Vail Veterans Program signature offerings are complemented by Family Support Programs made available to alumni families throughout the year. Alumni families are invited to Vail, CO based on need, to continue their healing journey at no cost.

Resilience Training is a follow-up course to Veterans Path to Success, hosted in Vail, CO and led by Johnson & Johnson Human Performance Institute coaches. This training allows participants to approach stress management in an innovative and proactive way. Instead of avoiding stressful situations, participants learn how to strategically manage stress and plan for adequate recovery in order to increase resiliency. The Resilience Training provides participants with tools to embrace stress and use it to their advantage as a tactic to maximize performance.

For up to 25 alumni of the Military Caregiver Retreat, this program is a follow-up program focused on resilience. Caregivers of wounded Veterans will focus on health and wellness in a safe and comfortable environment, while connecting with others confronting similar challenges and learning sustainable coping mechanisms. Activities include yoga, meditation, empowerment training, outdoor adventures, and group meals.