Rouse Outdoors
Check out our social media
  • Home
  • Videos
  • News
  • Resources
    • Heated docks in Kansas
  • Contact Us
  • Partner Sites
  • Chatroom
  • Photos
    • Hunting Photos
    • Fishing Photos
    • Weather Photos
    • Scenery Photos

Heroes on the water helps current, former military members rehabilitate through kayak fishing

5/29/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
Current and former military members are invited to come out and fish with the Kansas chapter of Heroes on the Water. (SUBMITTED/JANE WELCH)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON CJONLINE

​
With Memorial Day coming up Monday and signaling the unofficial start to summer, many campers and anglers will be heading to the lakes to enjoy the three-day weekend without even stopping to think about the reason this day is observed.
The last Monday in May has been marked every year since 1968 as a day to remember those who have lost their lives while serving in the United States’ armed forces. For those fortunate enough to return home from war, the memories of the friends they lost likely will never be forgotten. Unfortunately, the horrors of the war also are difficult to forget, and post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury are just some of the many complications service members run into upon returning to civilian life.

Because of this, one nonprofit organization is working to help both current and former military members rehabilitate and readjust to life back at home through the sport of kayak fishing.
​

“When I got back from deployment, I told my wife I was going to buy a kayak for fishing, and then I bought two — one for me and one for her,” said Lyle Babcock, event coordinator for the Kansas chapter of Heroes on the Water. “Around the same time, I started volunteering at the VA. One thing led to another and I started taking vets that were in-patients out fishing.

“The first time I figured out I was on to something was out at Shawnee County fishing lake. A group of vets and I were out fishing and I had our two kayaks. A female vet that had been through hell took one of the kayaks out, and after a half-hour of not seeing her, I went out to find her. When I finally found her, I asked if she was all right. She looked at me and said, ‘I haven’t been this relaxed in years,’ as she leaned back into the seat. I knew what she had been through, and for her to say that made an impact on me. We weren’t doing anything besides fishing, sharing a couple of kayaks and enjoying some time as a group of vets. I started researching vets and kayak fishing and found Heroes on the Water, a nonprofit that had chapters across the nation. I contacted them and never looked back.”

Babcock is among those who suffer from PTSD. His service dog, Gunther — a 100-pound yellow lab — tags along during the group’s fishing outings, often seen riding on the back of kayaks with the anglers. Service dogs can provide a calming presence that helps those struggling with PTSD or other traumatic brain injuries.

When the chapter was started, Babcock said the national organization asked the chapter to focus on veterans with PTSD, traumatic brain injuries and other disabilities. However, he said, as the group’s core volunteers stepped forward, the chapter began to plow its own path.

“As a group, we could see the need of our program to all veterans, active, reserve or retired, regardless of if you spent time in the sandbox or stateside. If you served, you’re welcome to attend.”

Babcock said this began to make the Kansas chapter stand apart from others, and that its kayak fishing events the past two years have been among the most well-attended of HOW’s 79 chapters in the United States.

“But it’s not about the numbers of attendees,” he said. “It’s about providing a safe, stress-free place that vets and their families can come and re-engage as a family again.”

The Kansas chapter of HOW recently hosted an event at Lake Shawnee for veterans going through the Topeka VA’s post-traumatic stress disorder program.

“One thing we also focus on during our weekly outings is to keep things consistent,” said Jane Welch, community outreach/multimedia coordinator for the Kansas chapter of HOW. “As veterans go through the PTSD program at the VA, they are relieving a lot of horrible memories. By staying consistent, we provide a safe space where they can come and know that things will be the same every time they come out to the lake with us. They show up, we feed them, they can fish or kayak or both or neither. We had a veteran come to our event and every week would just sit in the lawn chair and talk with other veterans. We encouraged, but never pushed him to try kayaking. About four weeks into the program, he took his first outing in the kayak, and from then on we had a hard time getting him off the water at the end of the night.”

June will be a busy month for Heroes on the Water. HOW will be on hand from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. June 6 at the Topeka Gives event at Fairlawn Plaza. The Kansas chapter also will host kayak fishing events June 10 at Lake Shawnee’s south boat dock and June 24 at Horton Lake. Both of these fishing events will take place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For more information, visit the Kansas chapter’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/HOWKansasChapter/or contact the chapter by phone at (785) 548-5320.
Read more about the Kansas chapter of Heroes on the Water by clicking here.
About Heroes on the Water
Heroes on the Water is a nonprofit program benefiting nearly 33,000 current and former military service members and members of their families. The organization reports a 56 percent reduction in overall stress, a 62 percent reduction in hyper vigilance and a 63 percent reduction in avoidance behavior in its members. It was founded in 2007 as a way to help warriors returning from war through the therapeutic properties of fishing and being outdoors. Participants in the program receive instruction of kayaking and fishing, with skill sets ranging from beginners to the most experienced of paddlers.
​
Heroes on the Water - Kansas chapter
2017 schedule
June 6 — Topeka Gives event, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
June 10 — Kayak fishing, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Lake Shawnee’s south boat dock
June 24 — Kayak fishing, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Horton Lake
July 21-23 — Kansas Veterans and Family Reunion, El Dorado
July 29 — Kayak fishing, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Cedar Lake/Osage Shelter in Olathe
Aug. 12 — Kayak fishing, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Clinton Lake
Aug. 26 — Kayak fishing, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., John Redmond Reservoir
Sept. 16 — Kayak fishing, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Lake Shawnee’s south boat dock
Sept. 23 — Tecumseh Heritage Days with Fishing’s Future, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Oct. 14 — Kayak fishing, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Lake Shawnee’s south boat dock

MAKE A DONATION
Online: http://heroesonthewater.org/how-to-help/donate/
By mail: Write to Heroes on the Water, 101-C N. Greenville Ave., No. 55, Allen, TX 75002
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    Author

    Josh Rouse is an outdoor enthusiast from Topeka, Kansas. He is the Outdoors Editor for The Topeka Capital-Journal.

    View my profile on LinkedIn

    Archives

    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    August 2016
    May 2016
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    March 2015
    October 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    February 2014
    August 2013
    April 2012
    January 2012
    November 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011

    Categories

    All
    Abu Garcia
    Alabama
    Alaska
    All American Catfish Tournaments
    All-American Catfish Tournaments
    Angler Feature
    Apps
    Aqua Vu
    Aqua-Vu
    Arbogast
    Archery
    Arkansas
    ATVs
    Audubon Society
    Backlashers Bass Club
    Badger
    Bald Eagles
    Barbel
    Bass
    Bassmaster
    Bass Pro Shops
    Bear
    Benelli
    Berkley
    Big Bucks
    Big Cats
    Big Game
    Big Horned Sheep
    Big-horned Sheep
    Bird Watching
    Bison
    Boar
    Boating
    Books
    Booyah
    Bosnia
    Bow Fishing
    Bow Hunting
    B&P Jighead
    Brandon Palaniuk
    Browning
    Bullfrogs
    Burbot
    Business
    Buzzbaits
    Cabela's
    Calendar
    California
    Camping
    Canada
    CarbonTV
    Carp
    Catfish
    Catfish Chasers
    Catfish Weekly
    Chubs
    College Fishing
    Colorado
    Connecticut
    Conservation
    Cougars
    Country Stampede
    Coyotes
    Cranes
    Crankbaits
    Crappie
    Crappie Masters
    Creeks
    Critters
    Culprit
    Cycling
    Daiwa
    Deer
    Dogs
    Doug Vahrenberg
    Doves
    Drum
    Ducks
    Ducks Unlimited
    Eagle Claw
    Education
    Elk
    Environment
    Europe
    Fall
    Fireworks
    Fishing
    Fishing's Future
    Fish Stories
    FleFly
    Fle Fly
    Fle-Fly
    Flint Hills Bass Association
    Florida
    FLW
    Fly Fishing
    Frogs
    Fur Harvesting
    Gander Mountain
    Gar
    Geese
    Georgia
    Government
    Great Plains Nature Center
    Grilling
    Gulf Of Mexico
    Guns
    Hawaii
    Health
    Heartland Bowhunter
    Heddon
    Henry Repeating Arms
    Heroes On The Water
    Hiking
    Humminbird
    Humor
    Hunters For Life
    Hunting
    Hunting Shows
    ICAST
    Ice Fishing
    Idaho
    Illinois
    In Fisherman
    In-Fisherman
    Insects
    Instagram
    Invasive Species
    Iowa
    Jackson Kayaks
    Joey Nania
    Kansas
    Kansas Crappie Club
    Kansas Crappie Trail
    Kansas Herpetological Society
    Kansas Wetlands Education Center
    Kayaking
    Kentucky Lake
    K State
    K-State
    Lake Of The Ozarks
    Lakes
    Lake Trout
    Lake Wheeler
    Lazy Ikes
    Lightning Photos
    Little Cleos
    Louisiana
    Lure Lock
    Lures
    Mackerel
    Mahi Mahi
    Mahi-Mahi
    Marcum
    Maryland
    Melvern Reservoir
    Memories
    Michigan
    Micro Fishing
    Micro-fishing
    Midwest Finesse
    Milford Nature Center
    Milford Reservoir
    Mille Lacs
    Minnesota
    Mississippi
    Missouri
    Montana
    Moose
    Mountain Lions
    Mr. Crappie
    Mushrooms
    Music
    Muskie
    Muzzleloaders
    Nace
    National Park Service
    Nature
    Nebraska
    Ned Kehde
    Ned Rig
    Neko Rig
    Nevada
    New Jersey
    News
    Newspapers
    New York
    Night Fishing
    Noodling
    North Carolina
    North Dakota
    Northern Pike
    NRA
    NWTF
    Ohio
    Oklahoma
    Old Reel Collectors Association
    Oregon
    Paddlefish
    Panfish
    Pennsylvania
    Pflueger
    Pheasants
    Pheasants Forever
    Pond Management
    Ponds
    Prairie Chickens
    Predators
    Pro Cure
    Pro-Cure
    Published
    Q&A
    Quail
    Quail Forever
    QUWF
    Rage Tail
    Ranger
    Rapala
    Reading
    Rebel Lures
    Records
    Redfish
    Reviews
    Rivers
    Roach
    Rose Kuli
    Safaris
    Safety
    Salmon
    Saltwater Fishing
    Sauger
    Saugeye
    Sharks
    Shimano
    Shotguns
    Slovenia
    Smallmouth Buffalo
    Smelt
    Snakes
    Snapper
    South Africa
    South America
    South Carolina
    South Dakota
    Species Feature
    Spiderwire
    Spring
    Spring Turkey
    SPRO
    Storm Lures
    Storms
    Sturgeon
    Sufix
    Summer
    Summertime
    Sutherlands
    Sweetwater TV
    Table Rock Lake
    Tackle
    Taxidermy
    Tennessee
    Terminator
    Texas
    Tightlines UV
    Toledo Bend
    Topeka
    Top Secret Jig Co.
    Topwater
    Tornado
    Tournament Fishing
    Trail Camera
    Trapping
    Trapshooting
    Trent Siegle
    Trilene
    Trout
    TTG Lures
    Turkey
    United States
    Upland Birds
    Varmint
    Veterans
    Vibe Kayaks
    Vibric
    Video Games
    Vintage Lures
    Virginia
    VMC
    Walleye
    Washburn
    Washburn Review
    Washington State
    Waterfowl
    Weather
    Westar Energy
    Westin Fishing
    West Virginia
    Wetlands
    White Bass
    Wild Game
    WILD Kansas
    Wilson Lake
    Winter
    Wiper
    Wisconsin
    Wyoming
    Yakima
    Youth
    YouTube
    YO ZURI
    YO-ZURI
    Zebco
    Z Man
    Z-Man
    Zoom

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly