Retreats for Veterans & Active Duty Military

A couple of years ago, we published a listing of retreats for military veterans and their families. The listing was so well-received that we did a little more digging to see if we could find even more available retreats to share. To our surprise, we could find 20 more, bringing the new listing to 40 available retreats for veterans and/or active duty military. Many of these retreats are also available to significant others and families.

What’s even more amazing is that most of the retreats are FREE! However, a few require a small, refundable commitment fee, and you must go through an application process with all of them. I’m so excited to share this list with you, so let’s get right into it!

40 RETREATS FOR VETERANS AND ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY

1 – Active Heroes Retreat Center

• Eligibility: Veterans, active duty, and their families.
• Description: The Active Heroes Retreat Center is designed by military families to help military families heal. It offers day visits, cabin vacations, and camping opportunities.
• Contact: https://activeheroes.org
• Location:  Shepherdsville, KY

2 – Camaraderie Foundation Retreats

• Eligibility: Veterans and their families.
• Description: Retreats and workshops aimed at providing support for veterans and their families, covering various topics like relationship strengthening and stress management.
• Contact: https://camaraderiefoundation.org/
• Location: Orlando & Tampa, Florida

3 – Camp Patriot Veteran Retreat Ranch

• Eligibility: Disabled or wounded veterans.
• Description: A unique facility dedicated to wounded and disabled veterans, providing back-country experiences and modern-day luxuries.
• Contact: https://camppatriot.org/ranch/
• Location: Northwest Montana

4 – Clear Path for Veterans

• Eligibility: Veterans and their families.
• Description: Retreats and programs promoting healing, camaraderie, and personal growth for veterans and their families.
• Contact: https://www.clearpath4vets.com/
• Location: New York

• Eligibility: Veterans and their families.
• Description: Retreats and workshops providing support for veterans and their families to navigate post-deployment life.
• Contact: https://cominghomeproject.net/
• Location: San Francisco, California

6 – Dare to Dream Ranch

• Eligibility: Military veterans and their families.
• Description: A holistic and alternative military retreat offering yoga, massage, nutrition education, and various therapies for veterans dealing with trauma.
• Contact: https://www.daretodreamranch.org/
• Location: Foster, Rhode Island

7 – Dogs on Deployment Retreats

• Eligibility: Military members with pets during deployments.
• Description: Provides retreats and temporary foster care for pets of military members during deployments.
• Contact: https://www.dogsondeployment.org/
• Location: Varies across the U.S.

8 – Freedom Alliance Heroes Retreats

• Eligibility: Combat wounded service members or veterans and their families.
• Description: Retreats tailored to the individual needs of participants, helping military couples repair and renew their marriages.
• Contact: https://freedomalliance.org/programs/heroes-retreats/
• Location: Varies across the U.S.

9 – GratitudeAmerica

• Eligibility: Servicemembers, veterans, and their families.
• Description: Provides restorative retreats to participants affected by deployment exposures, promoting healing and reconciliation.
• Contact: https://gratitudeamerica.org/
• Location: Fernandina Beach, Florida

10 – Hearts of Valor

• Eligibility: Caregivers of wounded service members.
• Description: A network of support for caregivers of wounded, ill, or injured service members, offering retreats for additional tools and support.
• Contact:https://www.heartsofvalor.org/
• Location: Varies across the U.S.

11 – Honor House

• Eligibility: Combat-wounded veterans and their families.
• Description: A place of hope and healing, offering veterans and their families a retreat in a peaceful wooded arena.
• Contact: https://www.thehonorhouse.org/
• Location: Varies across the U.S.

• Eligibility: Special Operations Forces and their families.
• Description: A sanctuary of rest, renewal, and hope for combat-weary warriors and their families transitioning from combat to life at home.
• Contact: https://www.lz-grace.org/
• Location: Virginia Beach, Virginia

14 – Mayslake Ministries Coming Home Retreat

• Eligibility: Veterans and their significant others.
• Description: Offers a free Catholic retreat program to help participants spiritually heal and reconcile with God, themselves, and others.
• Contact: http://www.mayslakeministries.org/vets/
• Location: Mundelein, Illinois & Racine, Wisconsin

15 – Michigan American Legion Wilwin Lodge at Cygnet Cove

• Eligibility: All active-duty service members, veterans, and their families.
• Description: A place for hope and healing, offering various activities and amenities in a peaceful wooded arena.
• Contact: http://www.wilwin.org/
• Location: Custer, Michigan

16 – Military OneSource Retreats

• Eligibility: Military families.
• Description: Retreats covering various topics like relationship strengthening, parenting, and stress management, aimed at supporting military families.
• Contact: https://www.militaryonesource.mil/relationships/married-domestic-partner/marriage-enrichment-programs/
• Location: Varies across the U.S.

17 – Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC) Retreats

• Eligibility: Military children and their families.
• Description: Retreats and workshops supporting military children’s educational needs and well-being.
• Contact: https://www.militarychild.org/
• Location: Varies across the U.S.

18 – National Veterans Wellness & Healing Center

• Eligibility: Veterans diagnosed with PTS and their significant others.
• Description: Offers week-long retreats with Native American healing ceremonies, alternative therapies, and counseling sessions in a natural setting.
• Contact: https://veteranswellnessandhealing.org/
• Location: Angel Fire, New Mexico

19 – Operation Renewed Hope Foundation

• Eligibility: Homeless and at-risk veterans.
• Description: Provides retreats and housing assistance to wounded and disabled veterans, offering an authentic back-country experience.
• Contact: https://www.operationrenewedhope.org/
• Location: Fayetteville, North Carolina

20 – Operation Restored Warrior

• Eligibility: Veterans struggling with PTSD and moral injury.
• Description: A faith-based retreat program providing spiritual healing and support for veterans dealing with invisible wounds.
• Contact: https://operationrestoredwarrior.org/
• Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado

21 – Operation Second Chance

• Eligibility: Wounded, injured, and ill veterans and service members with a 70% or higher VA rating, and their families.
• Description: Offers various retreats, allowing wounded veterans and their families to rest, relax, and participate in activities.
• Contact: https://operationsecondchance.org/
• Location: Germantown, Maryland

22 – Operation Surf by Amazing Surf Adventures

• Eligibility: Veterans dealing with PTSD and physical injuries.
• Description: Retreats use surfing as a therapeutic outlet, helping veterans rekindle their love for the outdoors.
• Contact: https://operationsurf.org/
• Location: Avila Beach, California

23 – Project New Hope

• Eligibility: Combat veterans and their families.
• Description: Fosters family togetherness through wilderness getaways, providing education and skills for managing life after wartime service.
• Contact: http://www.projectnewhope.net/welcome.aspx
• Location: Various Locations

24 – Project Sanctuary

• Eligibility: Active-duty service members, veterans, and their families. Also, open to Guard and Reserve families from all branches of the military and all eras. All families, including the LGBTQ+ community, are welcome at their retreats.
• Description: Therapeutic retreats across the country, designed by licensed counselors and social workers to help families reconnect and heal.
• Contact: https://projectsanctuary.us/
• Location: Various Locations

25 – Samaritan’s Purse Operation Heal Our Patriots

• Eligibility: Wounded and injured service members, veterans, and their families.
• Description: Operation Heal Our Patriots is a project of Samaritan’s Purse designed to strengthen the marriages of wounded and injured members of the U.S. military. The project includes a weeklong wilderness retreat at Samaritan Lodge Alaska. These retreats provide physical and spiritual renewal to participants. With picturesque scenery, individual cabins for couples, and dedicated staff, couples may escape the pressures of home and focus on renewing their marriages. During the week, they participate in Biblically-based marriage enrichment classes, devotions, and recreational activities. Activities range from bear watching to fishing, kayaking, and hiking.
• Contact: https://www.samaritanspurse.org/what-we-do/about-operation-heal-our-patriots/
• Location: Port Alsworth, AK

26 – Sandy Cove Ministries Operation Oasis

• Eligibility: Recently deployed servicemembers and their families.
• Description: Retreats designed to help military families reconnect after long separations caused by war.
• Contact: https://www.sandycove.org/opportunities/scholarships/operation-oasis/
• Location: North East Maryland

27 – Save a Warrior

• Eligibility: Active or former military veterans and/or first responders dealing with PTS.
• Description: Provides counseling services and alternative therapies, helping participants overcome the symptoms associated with PTS.
• Contact: https://saveawarrior.org/home
• Location: California & Ohio

28 – Semper Fi & America’s Funds

• Eligibility: Injured and critically ill post-9/11 service members and their families. Retreats are provided for caregivers too.
• Description: Offers various retreats providing financial help, adaptive sports, and therapeutic recreational activities for wounded veterans and their families.
• Contact: https://thefund.org/our-programs/service-member-family-support-program/caregiver-support-retreats/
• Location: Camp Pendleton, California

29 – The Travis Mills Foundation

• Eligibility: Injured veterans and their families.
• Description: Offers all-inclusive vacations in Maine, including adaptive activities and bonding opportunities for veteran families.
• Contact: https://travismillsfoundation.org/
• Location: Manchester, Minnesota

30 – T.A.P.S (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors)

• Eligibility: Families of fallen military service members.
• Description: Provides support and healing retreats for families who have lost a loved one serving in the military.
• Contact: https://www.taps.org/
• Location: Arlington, Virginia

31 – Valor Ranch

• Eligibility: Veterans and their families.
• Description: A retreat center offering respite and healing in a natural setting.
• Contact: https://valorranch.us/
• Location: King George, Virginia

32 – Veterans Adventure Group

• Eligibility: Veterans.
• Description: Provides outdoor adventure retreats to promote mental and physical well-being.
• Contact: https://veteransadventuregroup.org/
• Location: Nashville, Tennessee

33 – Veterans Resilience Project

• Eligibility: Vets recovering from stress-related challenges and their spouses or partners.
• Description: Healing retreats provide instruction and practice in self-regulation techniques.
• Contact: https://www.veteranresilienceproject.org/
• Location: Minnetonka, Minnesota

34 – Veterans Yoga Project

• Eligibility: Vets recovering from stress-related challenges and their spouses or partners.
• Description: Healing retreats provide instruction and practice in self-regulation techniques.
• Contact: https://www.veteransyogaproject.org/healing-retreats
• Location: Various Locations

35 – Warrior Connection

• Eligibility: Veterans with PTS or MST and close family members.
• Description: The Warrior Connection (TWC) provides residential retreats and services to Veterans and their families to heal the invisible injuries incurred while in uniform. All TWC programs and services are open to Veterans of all eras.  The Warrior Connection will arrange free travel from all 50 states. TWC provides separate retreats to male service members, female service members, and the spouses or close family members of service members with PTS.
• Contact: https://www.warriorconnection.org/
• Location: Brattleboro, VT

36 – Warrior Expeditions

• Eligibility: Veterans who served in a combat zone with an honorable discharge.
• Description: Provides long-distance outdoor expeditions with all necessary gear and support.
• Contact: https://warriorexpeditions.org/
• Location: Hikes: The Appalachian Trail (GA – ME), The Arizona Trail (AZ), The Buckeye Trail (OH), The Continental Divide Trail (NM – MT), The Florida Trail (FL), The Ice Age Trail (WI), The Mountain to Sea Trail (NC), The Pacific Crest Trail (CA – WA). Bike: The Great American Rail Trail (DC – WA). Paddle: Mississippi River (MN – LA).

37 – Warrior PATHH (Progressive and Alternative Training for Healing Heroes)

• Eligibility: Post-9/11 veterans.
• Description: Offers a retreat-style program for veterans to address invisible wounds of war through a non-medical and non-clinical approach.
• Contact: https://campsouthernground.org/veteran-programs/warrior-pathh/
• Location: Fayetteville, Georgia

38 – Warriors and Quiet Waters Fishing Experiences

• Eligibility: Post-9/11 combat veterans and their loved ones.
• Description: Through the experience of fly-fishing, Warriors and Quiet Waters (WQW) is a catalyst for positive change in the lives of post-9/11 combat veterans and their loved ones. WQW is an organization that helps veterans rekindle their love for the outdoors.
• Contact: https://warriorsandquietwaters.org/fishing-experience/
• Location: Various Locations in Montana.

39 – Warriors Wellness & Recovery Ranch

• Eligibility: Veterans, First Responders
• Description: A retreat center offering equine therapy and other holistic approaches to support veterans’ mental health.
• Contact: https://warriorsranch.com/
• Location: Dublin, Georgia

40 – Women Veterans Network

• Eligibility: Women Veterans
• Description: Unique social network of women Veterans fostering connections and building relationships in local communities and across the nation. BRIDGES retreat provides an opportunity for service members to reflect on personal strengths and skills developed during service and consider dreams and goals for life after service.
• Contact: https://www.wovenwomenvets.org/bridges/
• Location: Boston, Massachusetts

About Dr. Jeannine Bennett & Vision to Purpose

Dr. Jeannine Bennett, the driving force behind Vision to Purpose, is also a military spouse. She is dedicated to empowering individuals and businesses to achieve their goals through customized career, business, and writing solutions.

Our team of experts is passionate about helping people find meaningful employment, offering a full suite of career services, writing coaching for aspiring authors, and invaluable business consulting. Visit www.visiontopurpose.com to learn more about our services today! Whether you need a professional resume writer, a writing coach, or a business consultant, Dr. Bennett and the Vision to Purpose team are here to guide you on your path to success.