REI teamed up with the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) to host an afternoon class on how master activities such as backpacking in the wilderness and bicycle maintenance.
REI staff taught the group the basics of how to select the best backpacking equipment for height, weight, and distance being traveled. Warriors also learned bicycle maintenance skills.
WWP’s programs not only equip warriors with knowledge and skills to live a healthy and active lifestyle, but they also support warriors as they manage their mental health through physical activity and connecting with other veterans. In a WWP survey of the injured warriors it serves, 29.6 percent of survey respondents expressed physical activity helps them cope with stress and emotional concerns.
“It’s a breath of fresh air to be surrounded by people who are seeking help or are interested in the same things I am,” army veteran Stephanie Hornedo said. “It’s also nice to be surrounded by people who experience some of the same daily struggles that I do. I know I can reach out to these fellow warriors for support, or the other way around.”
Photo courtesy REI
