Describes multiple pathways that participants in intentionally designed therapeutic outdoor recreation outings might select to meet their unique needs and goals for themselves.

1. Principles of
Therapeutic
Recreation for
WWIA Guides
Keith G. Tidball, PhD

2. •Perhaps the most important role for a
WWIA guide is ensuring that the
Foundation’s mission statement is fulfilled.
•Success is not necessarily measured by the
catch or kill, but by the quality of the
therapeutic experience.

5. Mission Statement -- To serve our Nation's combat wounded Purple
Heart recipients by providing world-class outdoor sporting activities as
a means to recognize and honor their sacrifice, encourage
independence and connections with communities, and promote
healing and wellness through camaraderie and a shared passion for the
outdoors.
Why does a WWIA Guide Need to Know
About This?

6. Why does a WWIA Guide Need to Know
About This?
Values & Motivations
Attraction to Nature Mastery/Control Emotional Attachment Spiritual
Nature Contact/Experience Fear/Aversion Scientific Study Symbolic
Physical/Material Camaraderie
People have different paths to their healing, based in any number of combinations of these values and
motivations

7. • Mission - To serve our Nation's combat wounded Purple Heart
recipients by providing world-class outdoor sporting activities as a
means to recognize and honor their sacrifice, encourage
independence and connections with communities, and
promote healing and wellness through camaraderie and a
shared passion for the outdoors.
Why does a WWIA Guide Need to Know
About This? SO YOU CAN PROTECT THIS

8. Cite as: Tidball, K.G. (2015). Hunting and the Return of
the Warrior: Therapeutic Possibilities for the Chase. In
This Land Is Your Land: Toward a Better Understanding
of Nature's Resiliency-Building and Restorative Power
for Armed Forces Personnel, Veterans, and their
Families, Daniel Dustin, Editor. Urbana , IL: Sagamore
Publishing, LLC.
Hunting and the Return of the Warrior: Therapeutic
Possibilities for the Chase
Available online -
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/279532427_
Hunting_and_the_Return_of_the_Warrior_Therapeutic
_Possibilities_for_the_Chase

9. Two Collaborative ‘Cut and Paste’ Concept Mapping”
(C3M) posters developed by combat veterans in the
Fort Drum area.

10. Images and concepts from C3M exercise wherein participants report
concepts and values such as reward, personal growth, maturity,
patience and safety.

11. A C3M image with descriptors focusing on notions of togetherness,
being with someone in the outdoors.

12. Multiple concepts are represented on this C3M including peace and
solitude, goal orientation, and stewardship.

13. In addition to values of love, respect, and connection to nature, this C3M cluster
indicates a strong feminine notion of interrelation, illustrating that the values of
hunting as therapeutic outdoor recreation are not necessarily limited to males.

14. This is C3M image and interpretation point to one of the more recurring themes in hunting
as outdoor recreation, a complex notion of family, feeling need and part of a group, and
the ability to mentor junior members of the group.

15. An example of the importance of problem-solving and mastery in
outdoor recreational activities.

16. This C3M clearly emphasizes notions of re-connectedness, and the
relationship between interaction with animals and outdoor settings.

17. Another iteration of the importance of sanctuary, quiet relaxation, and
simplicity.

18. Based on Kellert’s biophilic values (Kellert, 2005)

19. Why does a WWIA Guide Need to Know
About This?
Values & Motivations
Attraction to Nature Mastery/Control Emotional Attachment Spiritual Nature Contact/Experience
Fear/Aversion Scientific Study Symbolic Physical/Material

20. Part II – Threats to the Therapeutic
Scenario A – Hero “X” was wounded in urban warfare in a city in Iraq.
He is on a trip where there are many landowners contributing to a high
quality whitetail hunt. One of the landowners is a combat veteran
himself, and after a few beers around the campfire, it is discovered that
the landowner fought in the same battle, just across the street. Stories
are swapped, tears are shed, etc. The campfire gathering winds down
and the associate(s) wrap things up – the new battle buddies say they’ll
be right behind the rest of the heroes heading to the rack. An hour
later, a shot is heard and everyone comes out see what happened – the
landowner has “jokingly” grabbed the heroes hat and shot a hole in it
with his handgun… nobody can look at anybody in the eye…

21. Part II – Threats to the Therapeutic
Scenario B – You’re the guide on a group trip involving an ocean going
vessel. Your trip is for a week of deep sea fishing. As you assemble your
group, you notice one of the participants is getting edgy and nervous
about becoming sea sick. You encourage and counsel him, but watch
him steadily become more uncomfortable. Your group sets sail, and
within a few hours, the participant is sick. At about eight hours into the
trip, the individual is delusional, naked, and claiming to the ship captain
that he is going to jump ship and swim home…

22. Part II – Threats to the Therapeutic
Scenario C – On an event, there are a number of men in their 50’s and
60’s at the event’s concluding banquet (could be a Amer.Legion dinner,
sportsmen’s club, etc.). Some are very emotional, visibly crying and
making speeches and wanting to hug the warriors on your event, who
are clearly uncomfortable with this. As the banquet winds down, your
warriors are looking withdrawn and edgy…

23. Part II – Threats to the Therapeutic
Scenario D – You have had an excellent trip. All of your hunters have
had success, and even the young medically retired PFC who seemed
really jumpy and maybe a little unstable psychologically seems to have
thrived during the event.
Two weeks later your phone rings at 3 am, and the young PFC is on the
other end of the line, distraught, grappling with an impulse to end his
life…

24. Bottom Line –
Perhaps the most important role for a WWIA guide is ensuring that the Foundation’s mission statement is fulfilled.
Success is not necessarily measured by the catch or kill, but by the quality of the therapeutic experience.