Programs

Community Need

• The wellbeing of military families and children is integral to the successful functioning of our military forces.
• The military’s demands include the risk of injury or death, whether during training, while operating military equipment, or in wartime deployment; separations from family; frequent moves; living in foreign countries; long and unpredictable duty hours; and pressure to conform to high standards of behavior. People in many occupations experience some of these demands, but service members and their families are likely to experience all of them, often in a relatively short time.
• A growing area of research shows the negative impact on children, youth and families of military personnel. Children of military personnel are at a significant disadvantage compared with their peers in non-military families. Wartime parental deployments can be one of the most stressful events of a child’s life.
• Military life can be a source of psychological stress for children. Children in military families experience high rates of mental health, trauma and related problems. Multiple deployments, frequent moves and having a parent injured or die is a reality for many children in military families. For children, frequent moves can disrupt education and bring periods of stressful acclimation to a new environment where they may not have any friends and may be disconnected from school and community activities.
• Evidence indicates that symptoms of PTSD can be transferred to family members. For many children of service members, the invisible wounds may not emerge until months or years after they have parents have returned from deployment and left military service.
• Children of military families face financial difficulties along with the challenges of learning to adapt to the physical, mental, and emotional changes in or loss of a loved one. Despite benefits, some families, especially large families of junior service members, have trouble making ends meet, just like families in the civilian world.

How We Support

Veteran Retreats Foundation aims to make a positive impact on the children of military members which include the fallen, wounded, active, deployed, and reservists. We recognize that military children have many interests, and for that reason, we continue to look for a wide variety of opportunities that offer a positive learning experience along with the opportunity for personal growth. We accomplish our mission by sponsoring these children to Military Youth Golf Impact Retreat. Retreats encourage healthy living as part of our core mission of strengthening our military family, and provide much needed recreational and bonding opportunities for military children and families who have experienced multiple deployments.

The program’s mission is to provide rehabilitative golf experiences and family inclusive golf opportunities to the youth of fallen service members and wounded war veterans in an effort to improve the quality of life for these children.

Military Youth Golf Impact Retreat provides military children tools to help deal with the stresses that result from a parent’s deployment, through a memorable retreat experience in a safe, structured environment. The program fosters and supports the relationship between the child and his or her parent or caregiver.

We strive to instill a passion for the game in our military youth golfers by make learning the game of golf and the pursuit of improving fun while supporting them on their journey toward their goals

Program Overview

Military Youth Golf Impact Retreat is a golf retreat program that serves military children as an outlet for youth to share their common experiences and receive golf instruction, recreational and leadership-based enrichment.

Military Youth Golf Impact Retreat introduces golf as therapeutic recreation incorporating mindfulness practices. Golf provides mental wellbeing benefits, research highlights that golf can help individuals improve their confidence, self-esteem and anxiety levels. Mindfulness or meditation has been shown to be a highly effective tool for calming nerves and decreasing stress levels. Mindfulness practices help youth focus on the present and get in touch with their feelings and thoughts. We’ve been struggling against a rising tide of anxiety and depression in adolescence in military families. We want to encourage focus on the present moment, as opposed to the past or worries about the future. We start with focusing on one’s breath. The Military Youth Golf Retreat provides physical stimulation and fosters mental, spiritual and social recovery.

The program’s mission is to provide rehabilitative golf experiences and family inclusive golf opportunities to the youth of fallen soldiers and wounded war veterans in an effort to improve the quality of life for these children. The goal of the Military Youth Golf Impact Retreat is to give military children tools to help deal with the stresses that result from a parent’s deployment, through a memorable retreat experience in a safe, structured environment.

Retreats take place at the Award-Winning High-Performance Junior Golf Academy at Eagle Creek Golf Club in Orlando, Florida- Lake Nona- fifteen minutes from Orlando International Airport. Exceptional facilities and service- industry leader. Designed for youth athletes who aspire to excel. Henry Brunton Golf Academy is a world leader in junior golf coaching. Headquartered in Canada at Eagles Nest Golf Club and Carrickmacross Golf Centre. Academies in the USA- Orlando, Florida and Irvine, California. Award-winning programs that get results! Best in class junior golf coaching and training programs aligned with the Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD) model for the sport of golf conducted by HBGA/US Kids Golf Certified Junior Coaching Specialists – PGA of Canada Professionals. A unique and safe environment for military youth to build self-confidence, establish lasting skills and bonds with peers.

Curriculum

The Military Youth Golf Retreat utilizes golf to enhance their physical, mental, social and emotional well-being. Military Youth Golf Impact Retreat curriculum is designed to help children find practical and fun ways to address the challenges of military life, introduce tools to help them succeed, and improve social and communication skills. The program introduces the game of golf through a developmental 5 day Golf Impact curriculum, led by Henry Brunton, PGA Master Professional. Experienced coaches and players will be taking children through a training with emphasis on teaching the game and improving techniques for all skill levels. The program gets youth outside in fresh air and sunshine, engages them in meaningful activity, and provides the opportunity for individual skill building with group camaraderie. The retreat experience is broken down by daily program itineraries that include field trips that enhance the learning experiences through immersion in natural settings. The program is five full days and features golf instruction, outdoor adventure, music circles and mindfulness practices.

Retreats take place at the Award-Winning High-Performance Junior Golf Academy at Eagle Creek Golf Club in Orlando, Florida- Lake Nona- fifteen minutes from Orlando International Airport. Exceptional facilities and service- industry leader. Designed for youth athletes who aspire to excel. Henry Brunton Golf Academy is a world leader in junior golf coaching. Headquartered in Canada at Eagles Nest Golf Club and Carrickmacross Golf Centre. Academies in the USA- Orlando, Florida and Irvine, California. Award-winning programs that get results! Best in class junior golf coaching and training programs aligned with the Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD) model for the sport of golf conducted by HBGA/US Kids Golf Certified Junior Coaching Specialists – PGA of Canada Professionals. A unique and safe environment for military dependents to build self-confidence, establish lasting skills and bonds with peers.

Initial Session &. Club Fitting
Coaches assess skill level by observing fundamentals, technique and performance ability. Our coaches have a world class cub fitting program that will assess and fit the children with equipment from leading manufacturers. All registered children in attendance will receive a complementary set of golf clubs, shoes and gloves.

Golf’s 3 Essential Skills

• Ball Control – The ability to control the direction, distance, trajectory, and a spin of a golf shot
• Decision Making – The thought process of selecting a logical choice from the available options.
• Self – Management – The ability to manage thoughts, behavior, and emotions.

Motor Learning/Skills Acquisition Model
Dr Rick Jensen’s 4 Steps – Understanding Cause & Effect, Supervised Practice, Transfer Training, Play

Our Participants

Children at all skill levels, from beginner to advanced, are invited to hone their golf game with the help of trained coaches. The children in the program range in ages of 12, if mature enough, or 13 to 16.

From all branches having served in the Canadian Armed Forces or the US Military that are suffering from a loss of a parent to deployment or suicide, or parent is suffering from PTSD  caused by occupational stress or physical wounds and children in active-duty and Guard and Reserve families suffering. Isolation.

Submissions are open to military youth whose parent served in any branch from the Canadian Armed Forces or the US Military, that are suffering loss of a parent to deployment or suicide, geographically separated by service, struggling to adjust to service member’s return with physical or occupational stress injuries, or suffers depression from the impact of military service life.

The selection process will begin with nominations from our partners and open submissions from our community.

Candidates submission package includes:

• Submission form
• Proof of parent’s military service
• Written statement as to why they feel they will benefit from this program
• Parent or guardian written statement as to how this could support the family in it’s healing and discovery.

Retreat Itinerary

Our 2022 Military Youth Golf Impact Retreat is offered September 28/22- October 3/22

• Arrival Orlando Airport September 28- greeted at the airport- ground transport to Henry Brunton Golf Academy Golf House at Eagle Creek
• September 28- Opening activities- Welcome to Lake Nona, FL – Visit Boxi Park – Meet local dignitaries- TBD- First Exposure to Golf at Drive Shack- fun contests
• September 29 – Golf Experience Day 1 at HBGA at Eagle Creek- 9 AM-Noon; lunch; visit Orlando Animal Sanctuary
• September 30- Golf Experience Day 2 – HBGA at Eagle Creek – 9 AM-Noon; lunch; Afternoon at Cocoa Beach/Kennedy Space Center
• October 1 – Golf Experience Day 3 – HBGA at Eagle Creek- 9 AM-Noon; lunch- Gatorland Nature Experience
• October 2- Golf Experience Day 4- HBGA at Eagle Creek- 9 AM-Noon; lunch- Airboat Nature Experience – Youth Impact Closing – transportation to the Orlando Airport

Impacts our Program Seeks to Achieve or Facilitate

Military Youth Golf Impact Retreat aspires to create a physically and emotionally healthier child by shaping lives, changing lives, and possibly saving lives through the game of golf. By seamlessly integrating the game of golf with character-building, we create learning experiences that help young people discover their inner strength, self-confidence, and resilience that they can carry to everything they do.

The program not only sharpens children’s skills on golf course greens and fairways, but it also provides life skills. Along with basic golf instruction, facilitators teach children interpersonal communication, managing emotions, goal-setting and overcoming obstacles.

Through our program, youth will learn skills that stay with them for life:

• Understanding and managing emotions
• Resolving conflicts
• Setting up step-by-step goals
• Planning for the future
• Appreciating diversity
• Fundamental golf skills and techniques- measurable improvements

Golf builds confidence, self-esteem, discipline, etiquette, persistence, and love for the outdoors. The overall enrichment we provide will assist our military youth in moving a positive step forward in their lives.

Collaboration

A successful national public-health response for military children requires communication, connection and collaboration with military and civilian researchers, as well as communities and systems of care. We collaborate with other organizations, including the public sector, to maximize efficiency, impact and improve access to continual golf experiences. Our alliances include non-governmental organizations, community groups, local and federal governments, Veteran Service Organizations (VSO), industry, clinical experts, families with experience. We receive referrals from service providers that have identified an immediate need for a family to access our program.

Opportunity

Official Military Golf Retreat Gift

Option 1: 2023 Retreat – Category Exclusive Cost – $40,000 USD
Option 2: 2023- 2025 Retreats – Category Exclusive Cost – $120,000 USD

* Naming Rights to Golf Retreats
* Full marketing & publicity exposure including RBC brand
* Usage of photographic and video material showcasing the Retreat and its impact
* RBC logo on VRF site
* Category Non-Exclusive packages are also available upon request

Cost per Military Family : 8 x $5,000 USD

• Retreats all inclusive of logistics, golf development program and other third-party costs directly related to the project
• Return airfare to include accompanying parent(s),
• Ground transportation
• 5 days, 4 nights deluxe accommodations at HBGA Golf House at Eagle Creek in Orlando, FL
• Meals/snacks/beverages
• Daily golf clinics & lessons at the Award-Winning High-Performance Junior Golf Academy at Eagle Creek Golf Club in Orlando, Florida
• 4 day trips
• Full staffing

All registered children in attendance will receive a complementary set of golf clubs, shoes and gloves

What Makes Us Different

We understand the social context in which military families live, as well as the diverse and dynamic nature of the military lifestyle.

Military Youth Golf Impact Retreat seeks to help youth with PTSD and other mental health problems by taking a family- centered approach. We consider the context of their parents’ life-course transitions, service branch, and rank and how that influences how children function in military families.

Our knowledge about the needs of service members and their families comes from personal experience and interaction with service members, rather than from surveys, interviews, and other kinds of data.

Participants will connect with peers who have grown up like they have in military culture and lifestyle. Fun, dynamic and age-appropriate programs. No prior experience or clubs required.

Our coaches take the time to get to know our junior golfers and understand their specific needs.

Military Youth Golf Retreat is a collaborative initiative aligning with a cross section of organizations, sharing best practices with Veteran Service Organizations within the military mental health space.