In February 2025, the Alfred A. Kuehn Innovation Institute awarded a grant to Outdoor Immersion. Outdoor Immersion is a Pittsburgh, PA nonprofit Community Care Mission using outdoor activities to create connections of friendship to help US Veterans suffering from PTSD to rebuild resilience physically, mentally and spiritually.
The Challenge or Community Need
Many of our Military veterans have been on missions that exposed them to horrible and life-threatening experiences or experienced a serious injury. These types of events can lead to PTSD.
PTSD is more common among Veterans than civilians. At some point in their life, 7 out of every 100 Veterans will have PTSD. PTSD is also more common among female Veterans (13 out of 100) versus male Veterans (6 out of 100).
Problematic Symptoms and Effects of PTSD include:
- Trauma-Related Symptoms: Veterans with PTSD may experience intrusive thoughts, nightmares, and flashbacks, as well as emotional and physical reactions to reminders of the traumatic event.
- Avoidance: They may avoid situations, people, or places that remind them of the trauma.
- Negative Changes in Mood and Cognition: This can include exaggerated negative beliefs, feelings of guilt or shame, and difficulty experiencing positive emotions.
- Social and Relationship Issues: PTSD can affect relationships with partners and friends, leading to isolation and difficulty with intimacy.
- Physical Health Problems: Studies suggest a link between PTSD and chronic physical health problems like cardiovascular disease.
- Suicide Risk: Veterans with PTSD are at a higher risk of suicide.
- Substance Abuse: Some veterans may turn to alcohol or drugs to cope with PTSD symptoms.
The Grant or Investment
The Alfred A Kuehn Innovation Institute made a grant to Outdoor Immersion to fund the activities of the organization. The funding is supporting Resilience-Focused Kinetic Outdoor Activities: rebuilding resilience—body, mind, and spirit. Through outdoor adventures and real, no-BS community connections, Outdoor Immersion helps our Vets stand strong again. This isn’t therapy. It’s about reconnecting with your God-given purpose and rediscovering your strength through shared challenges and hard-won victories in nature.
All actions, whether hiking, kayaking, canoeing, fishing, cycling, etc., typically last for a 2-3 hour time frame and often ends with time at a restaurant table. The goal of the action is to build a foundation of trust, confidence and friendship through storytelling on the trail, in the boat, along the river bank or at the table.
The Approach or Actions Taken
The Outdoor Immersion program follows a 4 step process:
Step 1 – Building strength and stamina through outdoor activities that renew the body.
Step 2 – Fostering clarity and peace by stepping away from stress and into nature.
Step 3 – Reconnecting with God’s creation and finding deeper meaning and hope.
Step 4 – Creating friendships and community connections that last a lifetime.
Outcomes & Impact
The impact of the Outdoor Immersion program is best heard in the voice of the Veterans themselves, here are some of their stories:
“My key takeaways were opening myself to new ideas and recognizing the necessity of love and spirituality. Our sessions motivated me to talk more with my wife, and spending time in nature—even just five minutes outside—helps me stay grounded and mindful of my surroundings.”
“This organization consistently earns the highest patient satisfaction ratings. Jim is a true gift, and we’re so grateful for his dedication to facilitating genuine healing and breakthroughs in people’s lives. Thank you for all that you do!”
“Jim, I want you to know I value the meaningful time and compassion you bring to everything you do. Your genuine approach reminds me that people come into our lives when we need them most. Thank you for your exceptional support and guidance.”
“Jim Skal, with Outdoor Immersion, led our Warfighter Assessment, Rehabilitation, and Resiliency Program at Portsmouth Naval Hospital. His transparency, authenticity, and passion sparked compelling discussions and revealed the power of nature. The immersion lab showed practical ways to build daily life habits—hands down the best program in WARR-P.”
“Your program was the most effective at forging genuine connections. Your transparency and vulnerability showed your authenticity—you weren’t merely going through the motions. This openness deepened our trust and engagement throughout the experience.”
“I experienced Outdoor Immersion in summer 2023 during a TBI clinic. Jim’s warm, welcoming approach and the nature-based program were truly inspirational. From group sessions to kayaking, the blend of outdoor activities and spiritual reflection felt like family, and I still carry that sense of belonging months later.”
Reflections & Next Steps
The Dr. Alfred A. Kuehn Innovation Institute was proud to have provided financial support to Outdoor Immersion. Outdoor Immersion has helped many of our Veterans to cost effectively extend healthy lifespans by building Physical, Mental, Spiritual and Social Resilience through time and activity in the great outdoors.
We look forward to providing future grants to Outdoor Immersion and similar groups and to collaborate to further enhance the programs and methodology.
Canoe Corps
Is a group action (10-12) that is a half-day event starting early on a Saturday morning and concludes in the lunch hour with a catered lunch. Participants learn how to work together to maneuver and maintain their boats in formation while experiencing camaraderie in primarily slow moving waters that may have some novice level whitewater. Breakfast and lunch provided.
OI Mess Hall
A Quarterly get together of invited veterans to share a meal and engage in sem-directed, military and civilian-life focused conversations that are meant to afford a way of processing various memories and current experiences with each other, for the purpose of developing relational connections and memory processing.