In 2010, Garry Trudeau, whose family has a long history of healing in the Adirondacks, visited returning veterans at Walter Reed Hospital. Moved by their stories, he imagined continuing that legacy of care in the Adirondack Mountains—this time for veterans coming home from deployments, combat, and years of military service.
Today, Homeward Bound Adirondacks (HBA) brings that vision to life. Through wilderness therapy, HBA helps veterans navigate the challenges of post-traumatic stress, depression, and the often difficult transition back to civilian life.
For many veterans, the sense of peace found in the Adirondacks is life changing. Shane Holmes, HBA’s Retreat Coordinator, described his journey: “What I found on my own is that spending time in the outdoors was more therapeutic to me.”
“It’s just so tranquil, it’s so still,” added Executive Director Valerie Ainsworth, recalling veterans who have described the Adirondacks as a place of warmth despite freezing temperatures. “Even when it’s 10 [degrees] below zero, it feels like the mountains are wrapping me up in warmth and support.”
HBA’s peer-to-peer model is at the heart of every retreat, creating space for veterans to connect with others who share similar experiences. Holmes first discovered HBA in Adirondack Life magazine and recognized a familiar face: “There was a full-page picture of a veteran I knew from my unit doing equine therapy. The article talked about the three-day nature retreat, and I said to my wife, ‘This is what I need—this is what I’m looking for. We need to find these people.’”
With support from the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program and the New York Health Foundation, HBA has expanded its reach across five counties. Case managers now provide crisis outreach, suicide prevention, and transportation for veterans who might otherwise struggle to reach the nearest VA hospital.
NYHealth’s funding allows HBA to help veterans who fall between the cracks; those who may not meet narrow eligibility requirements but are still in need of immediate support. “Sometimes veterans won’t say [they’re at risk] in the first meeting,” said Ainsworth. “As we build trust, we often learn more—and that’s where having flexible funding makes all the difference.”
HBA has built strong partnerships with law enforcement, local hospitals, and organizations such as St. Joseph’s Addiction Treatment Center to help identify veterans in crisis before it’s too late. “The law enforcement connection has allowed Homeward Bound to reach veterans who are at risk for substance abuse–related arrests or PTSD-related incidents,” said Ainsworth. “Law enforcement has often contacted us directly and seen veterans succeed through this partnership.”
HBA’s work is also changing how North Country communities view veterans’ mental health “People here are used to isolation—they don’t want to say they’re struggling,” Ainsworth shared. “But we’ve become part of the community. We’re being recognized, and that’s a huge step.”
Looking ahead, HBA is developing a permanent retreat property to welcome even more veterans into the Adirondacks and continues to create new ways for them to heal—through nature, connection, and community.
Learn more about Homeward Bound Adirondacks’ work here.