WARRIOR EXPEDITIONS

Warrior Expeditions offers three programs (Warrior Hike, Warrior Bike, and Warrior Paddle) on ten long-distance trails. Each program lasts 3-6 months and covers between 800 – 3,700 miles. Veterans start their program together and receive all training, equipment, and supplies necessary to complete their journey as well as psycho-educational training and coordinated community support. Programs are free for combat veterans.

Our mission is to:
- Teach veterans to use the outdoors as a long-term coping strategy for mental and physical health issues resulting from their military service.
- Help veterans use the time and space of a long-distance expedition to decompress and process their wartime experiences.
- Through veteran camaraderie and community interaction, help veterans reintegrate into society, restore their faith in humanity, and build a support network.

Programs include:

Warrior Hike
Florida Trail: 1,200 miles, crossing Florida
Appalachian Trail: 2,185 miles, crossing 14 states Georgia to Maine
Continental Divide Trail: 3,100 miles, crossing 5 states New Mexico to Montana
Pacific Crest Trail: 2,650 miles, crossing 3 states California to Washington
Arizona Trail: 800 miles, crossing Arizona
Buckeye Trail: 1,400 miles, circling Ohio
Ice Age Trail: 1,200 miles, crossing Wisconsin
Mountains to Sea Trail: 1,200 miles, crossing North Carolina (includes hiking and paddling)

Warrior Bike
Great American Rail Trail: biking 3,700 miles, Washington DC to Washington state

Warrior Paddle
Mississippi River: 2,320 miles paddling from Minnesota to Louisiana

Warrior Expeditions’ founder, Sean Gobin, was honored as a CNN Top Ten hero for his work. Short CNN clips summarizing our programs can be viewed at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJHOW-YiYjI&t=15s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRcZiPRx1r4&t=4s

The following short videos provide an excellent overview of the program and its impact on veterans:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgZgaAJY168&t=43s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76pfK67dnJU&t=2s

Methodology:

Participating veterans receive all the gear, equipment, and support they need to complete a long-distance outdoor therapy program. Experienced Warrior Expeditions staff spend 3 days at the beginning of each expedition training veterans in outdoor skills and the use of their gear. We shadow participants for their first week on each trail and maintain regular contact throughout the program.

During the expedition, Warrior Expeditions coordinates overnight rest-stops approximately weekly in trail towns along the route. During these visits, veterans interact with and receive pre-arranged logistical support (including food, transportation, and lodging) from local veteran and community groups. In addition, Warrior Expeditions provides regular gear replacement and a $300 monthly budget for resupply.

Participants are introduced to our licensed clinical psychologists at the beginning of their expedition. The veterans take a series of psychological surveys/interviews before and after the program. During the journey, participants receive weekly psycho-educational counseling strategies from the psychologists. These strategies are based on the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) framework to help normalize post-combat reactions and help integrate back into society. CBT is a problem-focused and action-oriented approach that helps recognize and alter dysfunctional or maladaptive emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. Psychologists are always available to answer questions

Results:

Since 2013, our psychologists have gathered mental health data before and after expeditions. Veterans consistently show meaningful improvements in physical and mental well-being, including decreases in anxiety, depression, and PTSD symptoms, increases in quality of sleep, and improved ability to feel and process emotions. A summary of results can be found at: https://warriorexpeditions.org/impact/quantitative-impacts/

In addition to the immediate health benefits, Warrior Expeditions programs are designed for long-term impact. Veterans learn outdoor skills and behavioral therapy basics that they can use the rest of their lives. Veterans keep their equipment to re-use after their expedition and Warrior Expeditions hosts a multi-day Reunion Hike to re-connect former participants with nature therapy and each other. Several program graduates are now active volunteers (or employees), acting as mentors and coaches for new veterans or helping develop new trails. Annual follow-up mental health surveys are also sent to track long-term effects.