Veterans enjoy the great outdoors
Dear Editor:
As an avid hunter and outdoorsman in western Colorado I had the opportunity to volunteer with Outdoors Alive, Inc. this past year and it was an experience that I won't soon forget.
Outdoors Alive, Inc. is a non-profit organization that focuses on creating outdoor recreation opportunities for everyone from youth and women to veterans and wounded warriors.
This year Outdoors Alive, Inc. hosted the first annual Brothers in Arms Hunting Camp at Buck Creek Ranch at the base of the Ragged Mountains.
The Bear Ranch deserves thanks for everything they provided to this experience.
I would also like to thank Commander and Company Outfitting, Rain for Rent, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, The Foreign Aid, Wiggys Inc., Batteries Plus, Sportsman's Warehouse, TK Mining, Cabela's, Boise Cascade, Callaways, Davis Tent, LDS Consulting, Alliance Energy Services, VFW, American Legion and many others, including all of the volunteers who worked as guides, cooks and wranglers.
This first annual program was very rewarding. In addition it offered a tremendous opportunity for both disabled and able-bodied veterans to hunt in a beautiful part of Colorado, in a way that many of them would not have otherwise, and I feel very lucky to have shared this experience with such incredible individuals.
Planning is already underway with Outdoors Alive, Bear Ranch, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and others on next year's camp and I am excited to say we will continue to serve those who have served their country with the 2013 Brothers in Arms Hunting Camp at Buck Creek Ranch.
Thank you to everyone who continues to support this program and programs like it.
Steve Stewart
Grand Junction