Primitive Skills Course For Disabled Veterans

Ed - Iraq 2005

Cory - Iraq 2005

Springs of Change, Inc is pleased to announce our first course in a series of recreational and rehabilitative programs for Disabled Veterans, 1st Responders & Gold Star Families, which will take place beginning in the spring of 2023. We will host this and future events at our tranquil Twisted Oaks Lodge in Bronson, Florida.

Cory Lee Hockman, a fellow combat and disabled veteran, presented a concept for a series of outdoor-based courses that serve disabled veterans and I thought it was brilliant. These courses are designed around learning outdoor survival skills, including those used by native Americans. I thought this idea was a good fit for what we are doing with our non-profit, and I asked to partner with him to bring it forward, to which he agreed.

For this event, we are bringing six disabled veterans together for a three-day interactive course where participants create a primitive dugout canoe and learn various functional primitive survival skills. Under the supervision of our facilitators, they’ll work together to learn practical & fun techniques that ancient people used in their daily lives. As they gain confidence in mastering new skills, we hope they will also open up and share stories, build camaraderie and create new bonds that come from working together towards a common goal.

To date, we have self-funded over 150,000.00 into this project for infrastructure upgrades, wildlife habitat restoration and the purchase of an adjacent property. These enhancements will help us provide a better experience for guests, and we will continue to expand upon these efforts.

At this point, we are seeking donations to help us provide this and other programs that support our Disabled Veterans, First Responders & Gold Star Families. All donations are tax-deductible and will directly benefit those who have sacrificed the most for our country and way of life.

As a combat & disabled veteran and son of a disabled NYC Fireman, this endeavor is very personal to me. With your help, we look forward to honoring our guests/participants with the best possible experience we can provide and something our donors can be proud to support; thank you!

*All expenses are covered for participants, including travel, food, lodging and parting gifts.