CAMP HUMMEL VETERANS RETREAT

 VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS POST 807

 BOULDER, COLORADO

 

 

 

  1. Overview 

 

This retreat will provide activities for veterans in a beautiful natural setting to facilitate physical and mental healing. Located in the foothills above Boulder, the retreat is an ideal setting to serve our wounded warriors and their families. 

 

  1. Background:

 

  1. Meles Jain VFW Post 807 was founded in June 1931. The first meeting, held in the town hall of Boulder, Colorado, was the first of many held with the express purpose to care for veterans involved in overseas conflicts. We serve over 7,000 veterans throughout Boulder County and surrounding areas.
  2. Our Mission . Our post has been helping veterans and their families for 88 years. Throughout that time, we raised funds to help veterans in need, provided scholarships to youths, helped veterans with claims, and maintained an active community presence dedicated to veterans and their families.

 

Why have a retreat for veterans?  It is estimated there are 22 veteran suicides every day. This number originated from the VA’s 2012 first suicide report that analyzed service member deaths from 1999 to 2011.  Sadly the numbers have not decreased, In addition, due to long deployments, the rate of suicide among military spouses has increased significantly. We believe that the peaceful and tranquil nature setting of Camp Paul Hummel would provide veterans and their spouses with the healing environment that they so badly need.

 

  1. Veterans of all ages and genders will benefit from our program. We plan to serve veterans throughout Colorado and to partner with non-profits in other states with similar programs. Many of our veterans (heroes all), in addition to experiencing symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and/or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) as well as other debilitating conditions, have lost limbs and have other physical problems. This increases the incidence of depression, physical injuries, substance abuse and sleep problems. We want to enrich their lives with healing activities that provide therapeutic experiences.

 

III.  Program Details

 

Duration of program: We are planning 3-5day retreats for veterans and their families, throughout the year, as many as we can afford.

 

 

Description of Retreat area.

The Paul Hummel Camp has been in continuous operation since 1967, ever since Paul Hummel (a Vietnam veteran’s grandfather) deeded 300 acres atop an 8,000-foot-high mountain to his church. Every summer several youth camps are held involving various groups including Boy and Girl Scouts, churches, and firefighters. Paul Hummel’s wish was for the camp to be used for the benefit of the community. Having the camp used to heal wounded warriors would follow the spirit of his original wishes, according to his grandson.

 Activities include horseback riding, hiking, rock climbing, archery, basketball, tennis, whitewater rafting, fly fishing, plus astronomy parties and stargazing from the camp’s observatory dome. Many of these activities can be done on the grounds of the church camp; others are located nearby in Boulder and in surrounding communities.                          

                                                         

 

  1. How the retreat will run.

 

Archery can take place on Camp Paul Hummel grounds as there is a local archery club already established there.

Horseback riding could be done on site or off with contracted stable in the area. (as one example, Sombrero Stables in nearby Estes Park charges $80 for a two-hour ride)

 Fly fishing is available in the area with a lot of water sources Fishing will include Colorado fishing licenses plus transportation.

White water rafting will be done off site / a guide/ within driving distance

There are many trails on the property / that can be guides or self-guided

Rock climbing is available on site / and off site

Star parties and observations will be held on the basketball court and in the dome observatory located at the camp.