Have you ever had the experience of being disabled?

Do you know anyone who is disabled?

Have you ever felt uncomfortable being around, or relating to someone who is disabled?

The answers to these questions is the story of Camp Patriot's history...

Physically maimed or not, it is uncomfortable for the soldier who returns from a war of flesh & blood, to being engulfed in a war of the soul and spirit. No veteran of war returns home unwounded. The scientific community focuses on the physical realm, but doesn't enter the spiritual realm. Our physical bodies however, are only "the house we live in" - it's not "the real me."

Transitioning from a military culture to a civilian culture also brings additional challenges. For many it becomes much easier and desireable to reenlist in military service where they are understood and valued. For others this is not an option.

It is Camp Patriot's goal to help our disabled veterans transition back to civilian life by providing outdoor adventures that promote positive, life-changing relationships and experiences. Examples of these adventures are found in our photo gallery. Interacting with our veterans in an accepting, loving environment, as detailed in 1 Cor 13 of the Bible, is the most successful healing and therapeutic remedy we've found.

Such was the case when our founder, Micah Clark, a special operations Marine, returned home from Afghanistan. His Dad, Bill Clark, a Vietnam Navy veteran, understood his son's need and they "unwound" in the blessings of nature surrounding their vacation home near Libby MT.

While fishing on Lake Kookanusa, Micah became overwhelmed with the desire to provide this blessing to his buddies and so many veterans left behind with no such solace. His vision - to build a first class retreat for hosting up to 20 disabled veterans per week, ideally on the shores of Lake Kookanusa.

The dream of our own facility is yet to materialize. However, with the in-kind giving support of numerous outfitters, individuals, businessess and corporations, we continue to take veterans on adventures throughout the USA.

The following is a brief synopsis of some of our activities since our inception in October of 2005:

2006 Micah was still employed full time in the Tri-Cities WA area, while continuing to establish our board of directors, build supporting relationships, and prepare events with veteran contacts. Our very first guest, a survivor of the Bataan Death March, was taken fishing this summer along with veterans of Vietnam.

2007 In June we established our office in Libby MT to launch our nationwide raffle of a log home, an antelope hunt, and a canoe package. In July we launched our first expedition up Mt Rainier with two Iraqi veterans, one blind, the other an amputee. Preceding the climb, we also launched our first annual fundraising event, hosted by the Seahawks at Qwest Field in Seattle with their fantastic relations manager, Mike Flood, now a Camp Patriot board member. Veteran guide Curtis Fawley volunteered not only his expertise, but arranged all support climbers and funded many of the expenses. His motto - we may not make it to the summit, but we'll get everyone home safely. And make it to the summit they did! Various fishing & hunting adventures continued that year.

2008 was an exciting year! Spring began by taking a right-arm amputee on a bear hunt on Vancouver Island hosted by Jim Shocky Outfitters of BC. We finished our 2nd annual climb up Mt Rainier with 3 disabled veterans (2 blind, 1 amputee), and completed our Raffle, which lasted almost a year. Many thanks go to our head Rainier Guide, Curtis Fawley of FarWest Log & Timber Construction, Pioneer Log Homes of British Columbia, Jim Shockey Hunting Adventures, The R&K Hunting Company and Sportsman's Warehouse for their donations and support of Camp Patriot and the disabled veterans we serve.

The exhilarating summer turned even busier in the fall. From taking disabled veterans fly fishing in Montana, moose hunting in Bangor Maine, hosted by the Penobscott Indian Reservation, to elk hunting in Idaho with our new Camp Patriot spokesman and disabled veteran, (Ryan Job), a blind Navy SEAL also on this year's Mt Rainier climb. It has been jam-packed excitement. Also significant, we were able to bring our founder, Micah Clark, on as a full-time employee in August.

2009 began with fishing trips and a Michigan Russian boar hunt, while behind the scenes work intensified on fundraising efforts and preparations involved in taking 3 disabled veterans on their first climb up Mt Rainier July 6-11. It was our 3rd annual climb made possible by a multitude of volunteers and equipment providers who enthusiastically give their very best for the sake of our veterans. Only two months later, we lost our beloved spokesman, Ryan Job, during eye surgery - please visit Ryan's Memorial page.

2010 January began with a goose hunt, midst a flood of planning future events, meeting new contacts at the SHOT Show in Las Vegas (Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor), and discussions with potential serious supporters. Communications with our directors' phones and emails never stop. This year we added a week of "Rainier training" for our climbers in the AZ mountains during April. Our thanks go to Iron90 Workplace Wellness owner, Robert Vera, for initiating, training, and arranging all the logistics required for hosting this important addition to prepare our veterans for their climb up Mt Rainier in July. In June, two of our Veterans participated in the Utah portion of the Pony Express 150th Anniversary Ride.

2011 Crimson Trace Laser Co of Wilsonville Or invited us to share their booth at the January SHOT show in Las Vegas. Randy Couture, UFC champion fighter donated his time and procedes by giving signatures at the booth. In February, Bozeman MT businesses joined us in providing a wonderful snowmobile week-end for 6 veterans from the southeast.
Springtime efforts are invested in preparing for the dinner/auction fundraiser at Seattle Seahawks' Qwest field and the 5th Mt Rainier climb in July. Extensive Team physical training took place in Phoenix in April to begin preparations to maximize our veterans success in this extraordinary adventure.

August events included joining Microsoft emploiyees to take our veterans on a portion of the Wonderland trail adventure around Mt Rainier. The fall includes a motorcycle benefit ride in Bozeman, dove hunt in TX, and an adventure in SC that includes driving on a high speed test track, flying gliders and vintage aircraft and river rafting. Hunting and fishing are usually woven in before winter as well.

Please explore our photo gallery and click on various links to get "the fuller picture" of what Camp Patriot is all about.

Disabled Veterans wishing to apply as a guest may go to our "Activities & Events" tab_"Guest Registrations" to fill out the form.