Cal Poly Humboldt Veterans Outdoor Program Podcast Cal Poly Humboldt Veterans

Mary is a Coast Guard veteran who participated in a few Veteran Outdoor Program trips before all group events were cancelled due to COVID-19 safety measures. She talks with Devin about her incredible journey from Alaska, into the Coast Guard, to civilian life, and now graduating from HSU. Mary highlights how the outdoor program and community sets HSU VETS apart from veterans groups at her previous colleges.

Themes: familial tradition of military service, resilience, using outdoor recreational skills while connecting with friends, bonding through the experience together, finding community again, spending time with the VETS community after trips



This podcast amplifies the voices and stories of participants of the Veteran Outdoor Program, a year-round program that provides therapeutic outdoor community-bonding experiences for student veterans, military-affiliated students, and families who are a part of the Humboldt State University (HSU) Veterans Enrollment and Transition Services (VETS) population. There is no need to listen to the episodes in any particular order, please check out the episode descriptions to start with the ones that seem the most relevant for you. Episodes are uploaded in chronological order of interviews. Since 2008, the Veteran Outdoor Program has embraced the values and strived for the outcomes of adventure-based practices and wilderness therapies. Everything about this program is guided by the intention to provide support through transitions from military to civilian academic life and to nurture community relationships that form a long-term network of support. Our program events have been created to offer an experiential learning environment which has been defined as ‘a learning process that happens for an individual involved in a direct experience.’ The program provides this direct experience by arranging opportunities to embrace connections with nature and community that each person can use to build resilience in order to grow through the stressors and challenges of civilian academic life. Population data shows that this program has improved graduation rates for participants. How and why has this worked? Listen to find out!

We extend a special thank you to our past and present program sponsors including HSU, Center Activities, Mt. Ashland Ski Area, Mt. Bachelor Ski and Snowboard Resort, Never Summer Industries, The Sierra Club, and Sunriver Sports.



Music Credits:

Farris, Daniel & Farris, Davion. (2021). Basketball (From the Netflix Original Series "Last Chance U") [Recorded by D Smoke]. On Basketball (From the Netflix Original Series "Last Chance U") - Single. WoodWorks Records.

Utilized under fair use guidelines for research and educational purposes

Emmanuel is a military-affiliated student with military service on all sides of his family. He is a member of the Karuk Tribe with a strong connection to culture, land, and traditions. Emmanuel talks with Devin about how his family and culture shaped him, his passions, and his strengths which he shares freely with the VETS community as an emerging leader of the Veteran Outdoor Program. Emmanuel shares some memories from past trips and talks about how the program has been adapting to COVID-19 safety measures. He talks about how you can still get involved while social distancing.

Themes: connection to Karuk culture and land, carrying on the family legacy, sharing our gifts with the community, learning new skills and passing them on, adapting the program for social distancing



This podcast amplifies the voices and stories of participants of the Veteran Outdoor Program, a year-round program that provides therapeutic outdoor community-bonding experiences for student veterans, military-affiliated students, and families who are a part of the Humboldt State University (HSU) Veterans Enrollment and Transition Services (VETS) population. There is no need to listen to the episodes in any particular order, please check out the episode descriptions to start with the ones that seem the most relevant for you. Episodes are uploaded in chronological order of interviews. Since 2008, the Veteran Outdoor Program has embraced the values and strived for the outcomes of adventure-based practices and wilderness therapies. Everything about this program is guided by the intention to provide support through transitions from military to civilian academic life and to nurture community relationships that form a long-term network of support. Our program events have been created to offer an experiential learning environment which has been defined as ‘a learning process that happens for an individual involved in a direct experience.’ The program provides this direct experience by arranging opportunities to embrace connections with nature and community that each person can use to build resilience in order to grow through the stressors and challenges of civilian academic life. Population data shows that this program has improved graduation rates for participants. How and why has this worked? Listen to find out!

We extend a special thank you to our past and present program sponsors including HSU, Center Activities, Mt. Ashland Ski Area, Mt. Bachelor Ski and Snowboard Resort, Never Summer Industries, The Sierra Club, and Sunriver Sports.

Kourtney is a military-affiliated student who has participated in surfing, rafting/camping, and snowsports trips. She talks with Daniel about transferring to HSU, getting involved with the program, enjoying experiences with the community, and making friends. Powered by plants, Kourtney shares her energy, laughter, and stories about what makes this program and community so uniquely awesome.

Themes: trying new things, moving through discomfort with support and encouragement from the community, family-like community environment, making friends and community connections, dietary accommodations during trips



This podcast amplifies the voices and stories of participants of the Veteran Outdoor Program, a year-round program that provides therapeutic outdoor community-bonding experiences for student veterans, military-affiliated students, and families who are a part of the Humboldt State University (HSU) Veterans Enrollment and Transition Services (VETS) population. There is no need to listen to the episodes in any particular order, please check out the episode descriptions to start with the ones that seem the most relevant for you. Episodes are uploaded in chronological order of interviews. Since 2008, the Veteran Outdoor Program has embraced the values and strived for the outcomes of adventure-based practices and wilderness therapies. Everything about this program is guided by the intention to provide support through transitions from military to civilian academic life and to nurture community relationships that form a long-term network of support. Our program events have been created to offer an experiential learning environment which has been defined as ‘a learning process that happens for an individual involved in a direct experience.’ The program provides this direct experience by arranging opportunities to embrace connections with nature and community that each person can use to build resilience in order to grow through the stressors and challenges of civilian academic life. Population data shows that this program has improved graduation rates for participants. How and why has this worked? Listen to find out!

We extend a special thank you to our past and present program sponsors including HSU, Center Activities, Mt. Ashland Ski Area, Mt. Bachelor Ski and Snowboard Resort, Never Summer Industries, The Sierra Club, and Sunriver Sports.

Mikayla was a military-affiliated student in the VETS community who joined the Army National Guard one week before this interview. She talks with Daniel about her experiences on different trips, highlighting recent friendships that blossomed during the program. Mikayla shares her experiences as a program participant who became a mentor on later trips, spreading her enthusiasm for snowsports and dance to the community.

Themes: familial tradition of military service, bonding through the experience together, surrounding ourselves with community, learning from the experiences of veterans, sharing our gifts with the community



This podcast amplifies the voices and stories of participants of the Veteran Outdoor Program, a year-round program that provides therapeutic outdoor community-bonding experiences for student veterans, military-affiliated students, and families who are a part of the Humboldt State University (HSU) Veterans Enrollment and Transition Services (VETS) population. There is no need to listen to the episodes in any particular order, please check out the episode descriptions to start with the ones that seem the most relevant for you. Episodes are uploaded in chronological order of interviews. Since 2008, the Veteran Outdoor Program has embraced the values and strived for the outcomes of adventure-based practices and wilderness therapies. Everything about this program is guided by the intention to provide support through transitions from military to civilian academic life and to nurture community relationships that form a long-term network of support. Our program events have been created to offer an experiential learning environment which has been defined as ‘a learning process that happens for an individual involved in a direct experience.’ The program provides this direct experience by arranging opportunities to embrace connections with nature and community that each person can use to build resilience in order to grow through the stressors and challenges of civilian academic life. Population data shows that this program has improved graduation rates for participants. How and why has this worked? Listen to find out!

We extend a special thank you to our past and present program sponsors including HSU, Center Activities, Mt. Ashland Ski Area, Mt. Bachelor Ski and Snowboard Resort, Never Summer Industries, The Sierra Club, and Sunriver Sports.



Music Credits:

Glee, Chanti; Childs, Charon; & Fowler, Corey. (2004). Teach Me How To Dougie [Recorded by Cali Swag District]. On The Kickback. 319 Music Group.

Utilized under fair use guidelines for research and educational purposes

Kol is an Air Force veteran who participated in the program in its earliest stages (with Outward Bound) and again more recently on a summer backpacking trip. He talks with Daniel about the profound ways in which the program impacted his life during his degree programs at HSU and afterward. Kol shares some of his most meaningful learnings from the program and his life, demonstrating his strengths of vulnerability, love, resilience, wisdom, and giving back to the community.

Themes: bonding through the experience together, reframing challenges and hardships as experiences and gifts, healing and growing, finding a local community, giving back to the community





This podcast amplifies the voices and stories of participants of the Veteran Outdoor Program, a year-round program that provides therapeutic outdoor community-bonding experiences for student veterans, military-affiliated students, and families who are a part of the Humboldt State University (HSU) Veterans Enrollment and Transition Services (VETS) population. There is no need to listen to the episodes in any particular order, please check out the episode descriptions to start with the ones that seem the most relevant for you. Episodes are uploaded in chronological order of interviews. Since 2008, the Veteran Outdoor Program has embraced the values and strived for the outcomes of adventure-based practices and wilderness therapies. Everything about this program is guided by the intention to provide support through transitions from military to civilian academic life and to nurture community relationships that form a long-term network of support. Our program events have been created to offer an experiential learning environment which has been defined as ‘a learning process that happens for an individual involved in a direct experience.’ The program provides this direct experience by arranging opportunities to embrace connections with nature and community that each person can use to build resilience in order to grow through the stressors and challenges of civilian academic life. Population data shows that this program has improved graduation rates for participants. How and why has this worked? Listen to find out!

We extend a special thank you to our past and present program sponsors including HSU, Center Activities, Mt. Ashland Ski Area, Mt. Bachelor Ski and Snowboard Resort, Never Summer Industries, The Sierra Club, and Sunriver Sports.

James is a Navy veteran who participated in the program and then became involved with coordination and social media outreach. He talks with Daniel about his involvement with the community through two degree programs at HSU. James shares about his experiences during snowboarding, kayaking, and rafting trips. He identifies some of the key purposes of the program.

Themes: coordination, funding challenges, bonding through the experience together, making friends and finding roommates, gratitude for the program and community leadership, adapting military skills for recreation, using this program as a model for other communities





This podcast amplifies the voices and stories of participants of the Veteran Outdoor Program, a year-round program that provides therapeutic outdoor community-bonding experiences for student veterans, military-affiliated students, and families who are a part of the Humboldt State University (HSU) Veterans Enrollment and Transition Services (VETS) population. There is no need to listen to the episodes in any particular order, please check out the episode descriptions to start with the ones that seem the most relevant for you. Episodes are uploaded in chronological order of interviews. Since 2008, the Veteran Outdoor Program has embraced the values and strived for the outcomes of adventure-based practices and wilderness therapies. Everything about this program is guided by the intention to provide support through transitions from military to civilian academic life and to nurture community relationships that form a long-term network of support. Our program events have been created to offer an experiential learning environment which has been defined as ‘a learning process that happens for an individual involved in a direct experience.’ The program provides this direct experience by arranging opportunities to embrace connections with nature and community that each person can use to build resilience in order to grow through the stressors and challenges of civilian academic life. Population data shows that this program has improved graduation rates for participants. How and why has this worked? Listen to find out!

We extend a special thank you to our past and present program sponsors including HSU, Center Activities, Mt. Ashland Ski Area, Mt. Bachelor Ski and Snowboard Resort, Never Summer Industries, The Sierra Club, and Sunriver Sports.