Sierra Club Military Outdoors w/ Sherman Neal II (Episode 46)

Send us Fan Mail58% of veterans have been diagnosed with a mental health disorder. 1 in 3 women veterans have experienced military sexual trauma. 30% of land management agency employees are veterans — five times their share of the general population.Sherman Neal II, US Marine Corps veteran and Deputy Director of Sierra Club Military Outdoors, joins The Parks Podcast on Veterans Day to share why the outdoors is where healing happens — and how Sierra Club has been building that bridge since 2006.In this episode: — David Brower, the Sierra Club's first executive director: a WWII veteran who climbed with the 10th Mountain Division — How Military Outdoors started — the Military Families Initiative of 2006, at the peak of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom — Why Sherman didn't want to be around other veterans after leaving service — and what a whitewater rafting trip on the Salmon River changed — Why 48% of Military Outdoors participants are women — when women are only 11% of the veteran population — What outings look like: ice fishing, sailing, picnics, cornhole, Class IV rapids — no template, no required format — Sierra Thrives (Los Angeles): a community cohort bringing veterans and service providers together on public lands — The Vet Space: a women veterans outdoor program that grew out of Military Outdoors — Red Top Mountain State Park, Georgia — the Tuskegee Airman who built a park for his community in 1950 — Barriers to access: transportation, awareness, and jobs — How to get involved: sierraclub.org/military-outdoorsHappy Veterans Day — thank you for your service.Support the show