Wilderness Inquiry Partners with Blue Star Families to Expand Outdoor Opportunities for Military Families

Wilderness Inquiry is proud to announce our partnership with Blue Star Families and the creation of our Military Families Outdoors program, alongside federal partners including the Defense Health Agency and National Park Service. Our shared mission is to create an environment where military families not only feel a profound sense of belonging in the outdoors, but also within their communities. Together, we aim to facilitate a continuum of outdoor recreation activities intentionally designed to support community integration, ultimately leading to enhanced mental, physical, and social-emotional health outcomes for military families.

Wilderness Inquiry deeply believes in the healing and regenerative power of the outdoors. We are proud to work alongside Blue Star Families and our nation’s service members to build nature-based opportunities that connect families to one another and to a continuum of outdoor recreation experiences.”
– Erika Rivers, Executive Director of Wilderness Inquiry. 

Frequently on the move, military families can often feel isolated from their local community. Parks, forests, and waterways are ideal settings for strengthening bonds between and among military families. This partnership between our two well-known national organizations and federal partners will facilitate a continuum of outdoor recreation experiences – from backyard to backcountry – so military families can connect with one another and feel confident and comfortable recreating on our nation’s public lands. Blue Star Families and Wilderness Inquiry will provide accessible outdoor recreation and education programs for more than 5,500 military family members in 2024, supporting positive mental and physical health outcomes for all who participate.

Our partnership with Wilderness Inquiry is the next step in our work to support the health and well-being of those who serve and the families that support them. This program will ensure that our members feel a sense of welcome and belonging in the lands their families serve to protect.”
– Kathy Roth-Douquet, Chief Executive Officer of Blue Star Families.

This collaborative program will engage military families in near-home outdoor recreation activities – including water activities, hiking, nature exploration, and camping – as well as skill-building, extended-trip experiences, and guided explorations of the natural world. 

We know that time spent outdoors can be rejuvenating! Together with Blue Star Families, we are building opportunities for military families and veterans to connect, rejuvenate, and explore nature in a safe, fun, and inclusive way.