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October 30, 2024
How Peterson Outdoors Ministries Empowers Veterans and Families Through the Outdoors
Gun owners across the country are making a difference, not just through responsible firearm ownership, but by giving back to their communities in impactful ways. From donating meat from hunts to hosting fundraisers for local causes, the GunOwnersCare® series highlights the heart and dedication of individuals in the firearm community. Join us as we explore the positive impact gun owners are making, one story at a time.
Peterson Outdoors Ministries
Tron and Troy Peterson are shining examples of the Gun Owners Care community. Their organization, Peterson Outdoors Ministries (POM), provides faith-based outdoor recreational therapy for injured and recovering Veterans and their families, as well as youth and adults with disabilities or terminal illnesses. Peterson Outdoors Ministries is a 501 (c)3 non-profit organization with a governing board of directors.
From a Shared Vision to a Lifelong Mission
From twin brothers with service hearts at Missouri Southern State University (MSSU) in the early ’90s to leading an organization helping tens of thousands of veterans, first responders, law enforcement personnel and their families — Tron and Troy Peterson are anchored in a calling to help others. Raised on a Missouri farm with strong values of faith and love for the outdoors, Tron and Troy chose to focus on criminal justice and law enforcement at MSSU.
Seeing the struggles of students with disabilities, they advocated for better accessibility on campus, often pushing wheelchairs up snowy sidewalks. Together, they influenced changes that made MSSU more accessible.
The Call to Serve Veterans Post-9/11
Fast forward a decade. The devastation of 9/11 hung heavy over the country. Men and women flooded the military. In those early days, Tron admits he had no idea where his vision for Peterson Outdoors, a veteran service organization he hoped to build, was headed. He simply knew there was a huge need, as veterans were pouring into military hospitals.
“We started seeing veterans coming back injured from combat in Afghanistan,” Tron says, “As a military family with numerous veterans of WWI, WWII, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan and Desert Storm, we knew well the anguish we were seeing. I had a vision for a faith-based organization that helps veterans through the outdoors. The more I saw, the stronger my call to action grew.”
Building the Foundation: Networking Through Outdoor Media
That year, Tron attended the Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA) Annual conference. Here, Tron met many of the biggest names in the outdoor media, shooting, fishing and hunting industries. Their interest in and support of Tron’s vision stunned him. Those POMA connections, connections to gun owners who care, provided the foundation that propelled Peterson Outdoors, later called Peterson Outdoors Ministries (POM), from a small, self-funded program into what is now a thriving organization.
Early Beginnings: Hosting Veterans at the Family Farm
Initially, POM hosted one or two veterans on hunts at Peterson’s family farm. Then, as the POM volunteer base grew and they felt they could handle more vets, housing became an issue. So, they wired the entire farm so they could use RVs for housing. However, on upcoming hunts, the group quickly learned disabled accessibility to housing and recreational grounds was their key challenge.
The hunt for a permanent home, land with great hunting opportunities and lodging, was initiated. The path was rocky, fraught with challenges and is a 10-year-long story unto itself.
The Vision for Lodge of Hope
“My vision included a focus on families coming together in one place to enjoy the outdoors together while also receiving spiritual fellowship,” Tron says. “During a 2009 hunt after-action meeting, the need for a lodge was clear. We wanted an accessible lodge with lots of prime hunting land and a lake. Yes, we were asking a lot. We were looking for our Lodge of Hope, a name I’d written in my journal years before.”
Making Lodge of Hope a Reality
Possibilities presented themselves and fell through. Raising the funds to buy a lodge was critical. Connecting with a landowner who understood the vision also was a must.
From six-figure donations to $1.10 in change wrapped in a stained paper napkin from an elderly widow to the willingness of the landowner to sell the property in phases, the vision became a reality.
“Phase 1 was purchased in 2017, phase 2 in 2019 and phase 3, the purchase of the remaining 172 acres adjoining the lodge, was recently completed,” Tron reports. “Now POM has a 7,200 square-foot accessible lodge, 35-acre lake, 200 acres of prime hunting land and three buildings for lodging and large events.”
Transformative Programs and Events
Today, POM’s calendar boasts scores of events for men, women and families at the Lodge of Hope, events held at/with other facilities, fundraisers, adaptive days and more. It’s astounding. Hunting, fishing, kayaking, adaptive equipment, spiritual leadership, shooting, archery, cooking, axe throwing, you name it, are coupled with an extended outreach to first responders and law enforcement.
Supporting Veterans Beyond Recreation
“Beyond providing outdoor recreation, we also address the physical and moral challenges these brave American’s face,” Tron explains. “With veteran suicides still above 18 a day, support is crucial. We know we’ve saved lives, physically and spiritually. The work must go on. We must do even more.”
There is no cost to veterans who attend POM events. Meals, recreation and housing are covered. If you are a veteran or you know a veteran who would like to attend an event, you may sign up online for either the men’s or women’s events.
How You Can Help Too
If you’re wondering what you, a gun owner who cares, can do to help, the options are endless. Companies or individuals can make adaptive equipment and product donations, monetary or auction donations, engage in partnerships or volunteer. There’s no lack of need. Information on events, donating and volunteering is available online at petersonoutdoors.org.
About the Author
Laurie Lee Dovey is an award-winning writer and photographer, media consultant and owner of LLD INK, LLDInk.com. Also, find her on Facebook and LinkedIn @lldovey.
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