““What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal.”
― Albert Pike”
SheJumps and The Mountaineers
Wild Skills Initiative
Wild Skills youth events teach young girls the survival and technical skills they need for outdoor adventuring. These skills can be applied in any season and include first aid, navigation, leave no trace and shelter building. Our goal is to see girls learning, having fun and connecting in an encouraging environment with amazing instruction and support. We want Wild Skills to be an experience they will remember, one that will spark a lifetime of passion for the outdoors and will remind them that they are capable of anything.
SheJumps and Tacoma Mountaineers Wild Skills Initiative, Tacoma, Washington. June 5, 2016
No barriers USA
Warriors
Military Veteran Expeditions
Virginia. Colorado. California. 2014
THE NO BARRIERS WARRIORS OUTDOOR EXPERIENCE
Our comprehensive program introduces participants to the No Barriers community through three steps. Together, this creates a transformative experience.
BEFORE: THOROUGH PREPARATION
Before the expedition, the goal is to introduce participants to the No Barriers Life and prepare them for the expedition. Participants are introduced to the program including expedition logistics, expectations, and curriculum. Preparation also includes all administrative items to complete enrollment, as well as mental and physical preparation for the upcoming experience.
DURING: TRANSFORMATIVE EXPERIENCE
The goal here is to experience the No Barriers Life. Participants have the opportunity to experience this curriculum with their new team in an unique environment. Participants have the ability to transform the way they perceive themselves, their barriers, and their futures. We create opportunities for participants to grow and stretch boundaries in challenging environments while encouraging them to reflect on their past, recognize their present situation, and explore future possibilities.
AFTER: MEANINGFUL ENGAGEMENT
The goal of this phase is to empower our alumni to live a No Barriers Life. This includes providing ongoing support for alumni for future goals, and ensuring alumni remain an active member of the No Barriers Community.
Military Families and Veterans Action Summit
August 2014, Islandwood, Bainbridge Island, Washington
Military families in the United States are facing enormous challenges. Since 2001, more than two million troops have been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. Fifty-five percent are married and 40 percent have two children. More than 27 percent have self-reported depression post-deployment, compounding the emotional and financial stress on their spouses and children. No single private or government entity is equipped to address these issues.
The purpose of IslandWood's Military Families and Veterans Action Summit, convened by Senator Patty Murray, is to bring together non-profit, government, military, philanthropy, and academic leaders to develop collaborative solutions to military family and veteran issues. Together we will establish a clear definition of the true needs for veterans and military families, create a model for a spectrum of support that leverages specialties of each sector, and produce a plan to raise awareness among the public and decision makers for these critical issues.
Project Rebirth: Project Cohort Launch Ceremony
Project Cohort is a revolutionary program that is changing the paradigm of combat veteran mental health care through outdoor adventure. Project Cohort is specifically designed to provide continuation of care. Many Veterans' programs provide a temporary escape from the life challenges Veterans face - the Project Cohort model creates a method that guides participants into already existing resources in the VA system.
Our Nation’s newest Veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are at particular risk for developing post-traumatic stress, anxiety/adjustment challenges, and depression. A 2014 Rand Corporation study estimates that up to 20% of veterans return with PTS. Of those that are diagnosed with PTS, it is estimated that only 10% seek out and complete the minimum number of mental health sessions required for adequate treatment.
Project Cohort has created a three-year pilot designed to study effectiveness. Success is measured through increased mental and physical health, increased social and family health, and greater employability when compared to a control.
The end result will be a continuum of care model integrating existing Veteran peer support, experiential learning and evidence-based therapies.
The partners in Project Cohort bring decades of experience. Each team member and partner is a leader in planning, communications, program design, project management, education, research and analysis.
Project Cohort Launch Ceremony with Key Note Speaker, Former Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey, Jr. (ret.). The New York Palace Hotel. New York, New York. Nov. 25, 2014.
Thunder Rumble 5K
Thunder Rumble 5K | Aug. 17, 2013 | 8:30 a.m. race start at 7845 Center Street SW, Tumwater, Wash.
Supporting Soldiers and their Families for the first of many AUSA and USFAA Thunder Rumble 5K Races. The course is certified, relatively flat, and perfect for amateur runners and walkers or the professional racer.
Hands on Art | Artondale Elementary School
To create a community of young artists that embraces the artistic talents of each individual child.
2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment Banner Day | Fort Polk, Louisiana
United States Navy Blue Angels
4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Task Force Warrior Redeployment Ceremony | Fort Polk, Louisiana
US Army Morale Concert | Fort Polk, Louisiana
US Army, Fort Polk, Cajun Fest Fundraiser
The Perpetual Homecoming. A Documentary Film by Bodhikai Imagery Films.
National Military Family Association: Operation Purple
Military Family Retreats and Healing Adventures
Islandwood, Bainbridge Island, Washington
Teton Science School, Jackson, Wyoming
Operation Purple Family Retreats bring families from all uniformed services, including National Guard and Reserves, to beautiful outdoor locations to spend quality time reconnecting after a deployment. With other military families there to share the experience, it’s the perfect environment to meet and bond with others in the same phase of military life.
Families take part in specially adapted communication activities developed by FOCUS (Families OverComing Under Stress ™), and build memories through fun family oriented activities like hiking, canoeing, and even building bird houses! Our Family Retreats ensure families return home stronger with better communication skills and brand new “purple” memories!
Imagery Beyond Borders is available for Event and Documentary Photography assignments around Seattle, the Pacific Northwest, and both nationally and internationally; specializing in Military and Non-Profit Organizations. To inquire or book, please contact us.
We also accept applications for in-kind donations for those organizations or military units seeking coverage, without the budget. Please drop us a line for more information.