Outdoors With Veterans Local nonprofit group organizes trips for our nation’s bravest. By: Mark Berger Those who either have served our country or are currently enlisted can participate in a unique adventure designed by fellow veterans to promote camaraderie and create new memories. The nonprofit endeavor Outdoors With Veterans began a year ago to facilitate such trips for veterans looking for something different. Those who register for these excursions, can either go fly fishing, deer, pheasant or bird hunting, and participate in other activities for one or twoday excursions. They are funded by contributions from fundraisers and events held throughout the year. The concept was composed by the trio of Joe St. Lawrence, Reggie Guglienett, and Sean Grundy, who saw an opportunity to help as many veterans as they could, by getting out and exploring nature. “Perhaps the biggest benefit we’ve seen since this began is the veterans opening up to other veterans,” said St. Lawrence. “They can be pretty quiet at first, but once they start to open up, then they start sharing stories about what they’ve seen, what they are feeling, and how
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they deal with some of those issues. They get to feel more comfortable talking with people who have shared the same experiences as they have. It also provides them with a chance to work things out with like-minded people who may have gone through the same things they have.” The trips are primarily based in Rhode Island, but they took several veterans up to Maine for a deer hunting trip. These experiences often have three to four veterans who attend. Depending on the trip, the group may stop for supplies (fishing poles and bait for fly fishing, for example) or teach the travelers some basic skills before embarking. The group would like to expand and include more trips to Pennsylvania and throughout the East Coast. All of the trips the group offers are liked equally by the veterans. There isn’t one trip that’s more popular than the rest. Many of the veterans they serve are from the area. However, the use of social media has expanded their reach considerably. St. Lawrence noted veterans reaching out as far away as Kentucky, asking about their organization and some of the events and services they provide. People will inquire about the trips and how
