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| Operation Purple Camp |
| Sierra Club Benefits |
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| posted: 6/15/2009 |
by: Allison Perkins |
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If you feel like you’re about to lose it, just get out. Scram. Run for the hills. Disappear into the depths of a dark but well-mapped forest. It could make you feel a whole lot better.
The Sierra Club, the oldest and largest grassroots environmental organization in the United States, is in its second year of offering a program to military families it says helps them escape to the wilderness to revitalize, reconnect and restore their lives.
The club has spent several years working with the National Military Family Association to establish Operation Purple Camp, a free summer camp experience for military children. Last year, the Sierra Club launched a program to help get the entire military family into the wilderness.
“We’ve always felt there was a healing benefit that comes from the outdoor experience,” said Brittany McKee, military wife and the Sierra Club’s coordinator for the Military Families Outdoor program. “We know from studies that being outside is a natural stress reliever.”
The Sierra Club and its partners -- the NMFA, the Armed Services YMCA and Outward Bound -- targeted military families as a population that could particularly benefit from the healing powers of nature.
“They are making the greatest sacrifices for our country, and they most deserve the benefits that come with this country’s valuable natural resources,” McKee said.
Several times a year, the Sierra Club offers programs just for military families in different locations across the country. If your family can’t make one of those outings, the club also offers a 10 percent military discount on its adventure trips, including destinations in the U.S. and abroad.
The Sierra Club’s partnership with Outward Bound developed a weeklong wilderness adventure course for veterans as they readjust to civilian life. According to former attendees, the weekends of camaraderie and friendship have proven powerful tools in helping many veterans rebalance after multiple deployments.
By the end of this summer, the three programs will have affected 26,000 service members and their families.
“We’re really excited and really proud of these programs and honored to work with military families,” McKee said.
The best part about the healing power of nature is that you don’t have to steal away on a large-scale adventure to reap the benefits, McKee said. Simply walk into your own backyard.
“The great thing is that there tend to be local trails and parks in most communities,” said McKee, who grew up as a military child. At each new duty station, she said her parents made a point to check out the local trails and parks.
“Just getting out there and experiencing these natural areas -- especially when families are of a transient nature -- they often haven’t had the opportunity to get to know their nearby parks,” McKee said. “We’ve received nothing but positive feedback.”
Find a Sierra Club local chapter near you by visiting www.sierraclub.org. McKee said the local chapters organize free hikes and can point you to the nearest trail.
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