It's amazing what happens, naturally, when you're on the water. The therapeutic values are unbelievable! Watching the Veteran participants transform over the period of a day is just worth it all!
The high quality outdoor Fishing is Therapy program, or F.I.T., that Rifles to Rods runs wouldn't be possible without support from the Cabela's Outdoor Fund and other similar organizations. It is not easy nor is it inexpensive to run and offer the impactful experience we strive for on every trip. For most people these days, fishing, especially fly fishing, is a luxury and a leisure time activity, that to someone inexperienced can be intimidating. It has been proven over and over again that being on, and around, the water has both mental and physical healing effects. To be outside with like-minded individuals and focus on a skill such as fishing has an amazing way of forcing you to get away and forget about much everything else. It is in those moments where the magic happens. The F.I.T. program is a testament to those healing elements because at the end of each day its evident, we've not only made a difference in the life of a Veteran, but we've also made new friends and the smiles on their faces....say it all.
Thanks to the support of the Cabela's Outdoor Fund, Rifles to Rods was able to provide high quality, meaningful, educational and impactful fishing (alternative) therapy to our Veterans in 2019!
The bulk of our season happens from, but is not limited to, April thru September. During this time RTR was able to offer fly fishing to veterans on the rivers of western Massachusetts and salt water fishing down along the Cape Cod shoreline. We were also able to offer Striped Bass fishing charters out of Plymouth MA and Portsmouth RI, having our widest reach and most impactful season thus far.
Thank you Cabela's Outdoor Fund for your support, it is because of your generosity the Rifles to Rods team was able to extend the reach of our F.I.T. program, helping more veterans while elevating the quality of care we can provide. #fishingistherapy #cabelasoutdoorfund #bettertogether
