Generosity Spotlight: First Nation Group

In honor of Veterans Day, we would like to highlight our Heroic Family Military Program, express gratitude to our military program supporters, and, above all, share the impactful feedback from veterans who joined us in the past year. BOEC has been effectively organizing programs for veterans facing disabling injuries as a result of their service for over three decades. The majority of BOEC military programs have historically been offered at no cost to service members due to generous funders. We have been a trusted funds recipient of the Grants for Adaptive Sports Programs for Disabled Veterans through the Department of Veteran Affairs from 2011-2022. We also work with several other generous funding partners including individual donors, Circle of Support partners Limber Grove and First Nation Group, and other organizations to subsidize operations of our military programming and scholarship military participants and their family members. 

First Nation Group is a proud supporter of the BOEC Heroic Family Military Program. They are the premier full-service, stocking supplier and distributor of medical-surgical equipment and supplies to the Federal Government.  First Nation Group offers government customers access to home and acute care products, remote setup solutions, and pharmaceutical supply chain management and distribution. While they classify themselves as a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business, Veteran-Owned Small Business, and Women-Owned Small Business, in our eyes, their impact and significance are far from “small.” In fact, as one of BOEC’s Circle of Support partners, they have been contributing $10,000 annually for the past three years. First Nation Group shares,

“We are grateful to partner with your organization in serving the community where there is a significant need. Our contributions allow us to continue our company-wide mission to support active military initiatives, veteran’s needs, and the underserved in communities where we operate.” 

The collaboration between First Nation Group and BOEC began when Cheryl Nilsson, COL USAF (Ret.), owner, and CEO of First Nation Group, visited the Breckenridge Ski Office for a tour in the spring of 2021. During their visit, dedicated ski instructor Alison Myer hosted Cheryl and her sister in Breckenridge, marking a special ski reunion for the two, who were former roommates at University. The First Nation Group crew was immediately impressed with the ski curriculum and BOEC’s dedication to our military participants and their families. Development Director, Hallie Jaeger says it is one of the most synchronistic partnerships BOEC has.

“From the moment Cheryl put me in touch with the Corporate Development team they greeted BOEC with so much enthusiasm and made us feel cared for. We knew our missions aligned and the communication all along has been smooth. I always look forward to checking in with the First Nation Team and cannot wait for them to come up and volunteer soon!”  

BOEC is grateful for the support we receive from First Nation Group. This funding is essential to our programming because it helps cover the costs of the veteran’s family members which is not included in the Department of Veteran Affairs grant but is paramount to our healing family model. BOEC’s Heroic Military Program is designed to suit the unique needs of military members who have been injured while serving our country and are faced with new challenges associated with recovery. Because family members are critical to the healing process, we invite them to participate in many of our retreats and river excursions. While the majority of our programming serves veterans, we are honored to also work with injured active duty members who are still able to serve. BOEC could not uphold the quality and quantity of programming for families without the contributions from First Nation Group, so we are especially grateful this Veteran’s Day for their corporate support. Cheryl Nilsson, Col, (Ret) CEO, owner of First Nation Group describes their relationship with BOEC this way.

“First Nation Group is honored to partner with the Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center (BOEC) and their Heroic Military Program – a remarkable initiative committed to empowering injured veterans, active-duty, and reserve personnel. This program enables all to fully embrace the benefits of the great outdoors, supporting a refreshing restart in their lives following service. Our partnership with BOEC, including their state-of-the-art adaptive programs, perfectly aligns with First Nation Group and the Dept. of Veterans Affairs’ Veteran and military suicide prevention mission. We commend BOEC for their unwavering dedication as they offer life-giving summer and winter sports customized to the needs of service members and their families. God bless the BOEC team for their devotion and commitment!”

BOEC provides military participants the opportunity to overcome challenges, through outdoor recreation both individually and as part of a group, learn new skills, and appreciate the natural world to enhance the health and self-confidence necessary to realize their full potential. BOEC’s Heroic Military Family Program includes partnerships with military agencies as well as open enrollment retreats with individual veterans and their families.  Accessible outdoor adventure opportunities include skiing and snowboarding instruction camps with the Adaptive Ski and Snowboard Program, mountain retreats, and river trips and day programs with the Wilderness Program. Specific outcomes for the veterans and their families embrace utilizing adaptive recreation to help redefine a sense of self, reinvigorating a will for adventure and solidifying a sense of peace for nature and the everyday environment. They have the opportunity to find purpose and empathy for themselves and a sense of community with fellow military members who have been through similar situations, work through mood changes, and establish a ‘new normal’ through structured activities to support emotional connection. This ultimately creates a shared sense of meaning and memories that can help build family cohesion.

For the 2022-23 fiscal year, we were grateful to return to 100% programming capacity, delivering winter and summer season outdoor adventure activities for veterans, active service members, and their families. The Adaptive Ski & Snowboard Program served 81 military participants across the Keystone Adaptive Military Camp, Semper Fi – Ski and Snowboard Clinic, veterans from The Not Forgotten Association based in London, and individual lessons. Our friends from The Not Forgotten come for two weeks at a time and often leave feeling renewed as this participant put it,

“I really cannot explain in words how important this trip has been for me and the newfound friends and colleagues along the way. This has included having the opportunity to discuss and share our journeys as veterans going forward with like-minded colleagues and friends to adventuring with one another in the spectacular winter wilderness of the Rocky Mountains.”

Another participant from The Not Forgotten shared,

“The trip has given me the confidence in feeling that I am still a valued member of society and given me a hook and motivation to achieve future goals that can only enhance my life and the lives of those that I am responsible for.” 

The Wilderness Program served 79 military participants and 25 family members on five river trips, three mountain retreats, and other engaging day programs resulting in similarly wonderful testimony. A female veteran on the Heroic Women’s Ruby Horsethief River Trip this summer generously donated to BOEC because she was so motivated by the trip. She said,

“I was on the heroic women’s river trip last week. The staff were hardworking, kind, funny, and made it a great experience. I truly enjoyed the program.  I saw the immediate positive impact on my friend who was also along on the trip. It was truly a transformation. You have great people. Please let them know their positive impact. BOEC also hosted PHWFF two weeks ago at Griffith Lodge.  I heard great things from the veterans who were on that trip. The donation was my way of saying thank you and I’ll see you next year. Keep doing what you do.” 

Overall, these experiences, and the operation of our Heroic Military Program would not be possible without the support of First Nation Group and similar partners. We are extremely grateful for their continued support and look forward to many years of collaboration together.