Healing through the outdoors is, for me, about elemental mystery. Part of the charm is that most of my direct contacts with the outdoors, whether sailing in the sun or being blasted by hail and snow, remain a wondrous puzzle. It’s not just about building expertise, though that’s part of it.Similarly, it’s not just about broadening experience, though that’s also part of it. For me it’s about direct contact. It’s about shifts in thinking and philosophy. In my case it’s certainly close to being about survival itself. It’s about spirit, mystery, challenge and much, much more. This might sound corny, but every year I hear direct from people who have been involved in the outdoors – on land or sea – about the life-enhancing and -changing power of the outdoors:
- “I never knew I could do it”;
- “It gave me my husband back”;
- “It put bereavement into perspective”.
It is a privilege to have some sort of relationship with the elements. Perhaps what gives learning through the outdoors that special power is that, in the outdoors, there will always remain a sense of striving, a sense of mystery and, perhaps most of all, a sense of challenge and adventure. The outdoors is a powerful arena for learning. The outdoors – and our development in, and relationship with, it – is part of the spirit of our origins and history.
Camp Freedom is an organization that exists to create an opportunity for disabled individuals and disabled Veterans to experience the outdoors of Pennsylvania. Our hunts and adventures will help these individuals to have an experience of a lifetime that further enhances their journey through life. Our 1800 acre property could have been used for many opportunities. Viable options for such a property would have been personal use, a quality deer management property for friends or a hunting club, or an Air BnB. However, at the hearts of property owner, Bill and Laura Bachenberg, and Camp Freedom’s Executive Director, Matt Guedes, lies a passion to serve others. These three have combined their experience and thoughts to create a property that will serve disabled hunters and fishermen for generations to come. The property consists of both an estate fair chase hunting area and free range portions. Both areas will be set up to assist our disabled and disabled Veteran hunters to have a hunt of a lifetime. With more than one mile of river frontage and two ponds, our fishermen will leave extremely satisfied.
In order to provide these hunts to our disabled clients FREE of charge we will be hosting hunts each year that will serve as he vehicle to provide our disabled hunts.
Disabled Hunters and Fishermen f you are a hunter or fisherman at heart and have a great desire to hunt a Pennsylvania whitetail or black bear or fish our great waters then you need to inquire about our hunting and fishing options. We will be accepting applicants each year between January and June.
Disabled Veterans
A certain number of our disabled hunts and fishing adventures each year will be reserved for those who have served our country in the military. We find it an honor to provide a hunt for our wounded Veterans and hope that this hunting or fishing experience will not only be excellent, but also be a part of the healing process.
Youth Hunts
Our deer management program may provide hunts each year that we will designate for youth hunters. These hunts will be determined based upon our master management plan and we will make this information available as our plan develops.
These four powerful organizations came together to create a truly one of a kind experience for Veterans, First Responders, and their Caregivers.
Please email Matt at mattg@campfreedompa.org to secure your application.
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