By John Toth, No Barriers Program Director, Warriors
We’re halfway through our summer season and want to give you an insider’s view of our in-person Warriors experience that took place the first week of August.
If you’re not familiar with our Warriors program, No Barriers provides transformative programs for Veterans with disabilities that shift mindsets, create belonging, and foster self-discovery to elevate individuals and their communities (learn more here).
This week’s Warrior group gathered in Fort Collins, CO on August 2nd and set out on their journey to the No Barriers Mountain Campus. In years past, this ride would have been a quiet, reserved excursion into the foothills of the Rockies. But not this year, and not this team.
Last year, No Barriers extended the Warriors Program beyond the one week, in-person experience. The program now spans three months, providing an immersive opportunity specifically tailored to enhance the lives of Veterans with disabilities. It introduces them to the No Barriers problem-solving framework, seamlessly blending interactive online components with the impactful outdoor experiential activities.
The Warrior group spent the last month meeting online every week, getting to know one another, preparing for the in-person course, and learning the No Barriers Life Elements. As a result, this usually quiet drive was now a time for catching up and growing friendships, with joking as only veterans do.
On the morning of day 2, our Warriors group faced their first challenge together – the No Barriers high ropes course. From climbing the wall, to zooming down the zipline, they put the No Barriers Life Elements of Rope Team and Pioneer into action, supporting each other through each obstacle. Oh, and that other element, Reach, yeah it was a part of the day as well. They had learned that no matter how precarious your position, your No Barriers team is “on rope”!
After lunch, the group spent some time in reflection, thinking about where their values and passions come from and how they contribute to their personal Vision. Using the No Barriers flag, each person shared their thoughts with their Rope Teams, delving deeper into the concepts they discussed in the pre-trip, online phase.
The team finished Day 2 at Eagles Nest, reflecting on the day, their Summits thus far, and finishing with a spectacular Colorado Rocky Mountain sunset!
Day 3 was spent hiking to the high point of the trip, Lake Agnes in Colorado State Forest State Park. Surrounded by rocky peaks at 10,500′ above sea level, the team continued their discussions from the day before, reflecting on where they tend to focus their energy…in the past, present, or future…and what values they want to carry forward towards their Vision.
Of course they couldn’t escape Colorado without experiencing some Rocky Mountain liquid sunshine. Being the Alchemists that they are, they took it in stride, waited ten minutes, and the weather changed. That’s Colorado!
Day 4 began with an incredible sunrise, as a few Warriors woke early to hike to The Point and take in the quiet stillness of the morning, reflecting on their No Barriers journey and collecting their thoughts for the coming day.
Before breaking camp and heading to the Poudre River for some whitewater rafting, the group paused one final time at the yurt to look to the future with positivity.
As they head into the post-experience phase, putting the No Barriers Life Elements into action, we are honored to have been a part of their journey and excited to watch this tight-knit team continue to grow and witness, as they Elevate themselves and their communities.
“I am so grateful to NB, I wasn’t sure what to expect besides what sounded like a great trip to the mountains. Absolutely has changed my direction, my path, my way of looking at life, and I love it. And the beauty of it, the mastery of it, the rope team. From the formation early on, the learning, mindfulness of phase 1. The elevation of all that during the mountains-truly life-changing for me in phase 2-cannot thank the guides/experts, and every one of the team. Through sun and rain, amazing natural beauty, and personal challenges met as a team…wow. Truly awesome. And now living the life, walking the walk, myself and my life and those I’m closest to are all better for it.”
– Chris, program participant (pictured left)
Back at the No Barriers headquarters, our programmatic attention now turns to the four remaining backcountry experiences in Colorado and Wyoming of the season. But, before we do, we stop to recognize how fortunate we are to provide these opportunities to some incredibly passionate, thoughtful, and reflective veterans.
A special thanks goes out to our incredible sponsor, CoBank, for helping us bring this extraordinary opportunity to so many rural Veterans.
