Shield & Valor Resilience Program
Outdoor experiences built to strengthen connection, resilience, and well-being for veterans and first responders.
Ready to Get Outdoors?
Whether you're interested in participating, referring someone, volunteering, hosting an experience, or helping fund a future program, we'd like to hear from you.
More Than a Day Outdoors
The Shield & Valor Resilience Program brings veterans and first responders together through meaningful outdoor experiences designed to create space to reset, reconnect, and build lasting relationships. Through hunting, fishing, outdoor recreation, retreats, and peer connection, participants have an opportunity to step away from the demands of service and spend time with people who understand the weight that comes with it. Outdoor experiences are the vehicle. Connection, resilience, and community are the outcome.
Built for Those Who Serve
The Resilience Program primarily serves:
Active-duty military personnel
Active first responders
Veterans
Retired first responders
You don't have to be in crisis to participate.
Support Before Crisis
Too often, support doesn't arrive until someone is already struggling. Shield & Valor believes connection, community, and meaningful time outdoors can begin long before that point. Our goal is to create opportunities for people to step away, reconnect with themselves and others, and strengthen the relationships and resilience that help carry them.
A Shield & Valor experience might include:
- Morning fishing on a Minnesota lake.
-A weekend hunting retreat.
-Mountain biking or hiking.
-Dinner around a fire.
-Conversations with people who understand.
-Quiet time away from phones, work, calls, and responsibilities.
No speeches. No pressure. No expectation to share more than you want to. Just good people, meaningful experiences, and time outdoors.
Built Responsibly
Shield & Valor Foundation takes participant safety, responsible programming, and stewardship seriously. Programs are planned with appropriate safety procedures, participant eligibility requirements, waivers, emergency planning, and experienced volunteers or partners when appropriate. Shield & Valor Foundation is not a medical provider, counseling service, or crisis intervention organization.
Hunting & Fishing
Guided outdoor experiences that create time for connection, reflection, and camaraderie.
Outdoor Resets
Half-day or full-day fishing trips, hikes, recreation, and smaller experiences designed to provide a break from everyday demands.
Outdoor Resets
Half-day or full-day fishing trips, hikes, recreation, and smaller experiences designed to provide a break from everyday demands.
Resilience Retreats
Multi-day experiences combining outdoor activities, intentional downtime, peer connection, and opportunities to recharge.
Peer Connection
Time spent alongside other veterans and first responders who understand the experiences, pressures, and responsibilities of service.Multi-day experiences combining outdoor activities, intentional downtime, and peer connection.
