New York State is launching a first-of-its-kind summit focused on outdoor recreational therapy for veterans, highlighting the power of nature to aid healing and recovery. The event will be held Friday, June 27, at the Adirondack Experience in Blue Mountain Lake.
The Veterans Outdoor Recreational Therapy Summit, led by the New York State Department of Veterans’ Services, will bring together 36 organizations from across public, private, and nonprofit sectors. The summit aims to spotlight the growing role of outdoor activities in improving the health and well-being of veterans, service members, and military families.
“This first-of-its-kind summit creates space for innovation, connection, and healing,” said Commissioner Viviana M. DeCohen. “We are proud to unite sectors and communities statewide to expand and improve opportunities for Veterans to experience wellness, recovery, and belonging in nature.”
Participants will engage in expert panels, peer discussions, and immersive demonstrations of adaptive outdoor activities tailored to veterans with diverse physical and emotional needs. A guided nature walk led by Adirondack Experience staff will follow the day’s programming.
Executive Deputy Commissioner Joel Evans emphasized that the initiative is about “meeting Veterans where they are—on trails, in kayaks, and around campfires.” He said outdoor programs, from fly fishing in the Catskills to snowshoeing in the Adirondacks, help reconnect veterans to each other and to themselves.
Shane Holmes, a combat veteran and Information Technology Manager at Adirondack Experience, called the event “deeply meaningful,” adding, “It shows that what we’re doing matters—and that more people understand how time outdoors can restore us physically, emotionally, and mentally.”
The summit will feature collaboration among veteran support organizations, colleges, state agencies, and local government offices. Among them are Clear Path for Veterans, Homeward Bound Adirondacks, the New York State Office of Mental Health, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Held at the 121-acre Adirondack Experience campus, the summit seeks to drive innovation in rural and underserved areas, share best practices, and strengthen a growing movement that sees nature not just as a backdrop, but as medicine.
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