In the near future, a chapter Project Healing Waters, a program which assists in the healing of veterans through the enjoyment of and recreation in the outdoors will be started here in Central Oregon. The national website of Project Healing Waters states the group is, “dedicated to the physical and emotional rehabilitation of disabled active military service personnel and veterans through fly fishing and fly tying education and going on outings” The Canadian branch of Project Healing Water‘s slogan is, “Rehabilitation and Healing on the Fly “.
In March of 2007, NPR ran the following series of stories about soldiers taking part in the program.
Orvis Casting Course in Bend, Oregon
Brad Emery, along with many other people, have been working for several months to get the project up and running . He said a number of people and businesses have come forward with offers to help. The Orvis store in The Old Mill will be providing a classroom for the fly tying, rods for casting instruction and use of their (only one of its kind in North America) casting course. Fly and Field Outfitters and Deep Canyon Outfitters are interested in helping. Owners have offered the use of private lakes. He went on to say, they are working on acquiring some adaptive equipment to aid veterans who need it to tie flies.
Vets can be in a wheel chair, have PTSD or be an amputee and take part in the program, Brad said. The Bend Chapter will be out of the ordinary because, there is not a VA hospital close by. He said, “Ours will be more of an out patient group, hopefully to follow up where the groups at the hospitals left off and a link to other Project Healing Waters groups and have them come and see Oregon’s finest.”
They will start out with one or two events and build up to an on-going, long term program. He said, all they are waiting on is confirmation of their affiliation with Trout Unlimited (to provide an umbrella nonprofit status) before they begin taking vets referred from the Bend VA.
July 20, 2010 I recieved word from Chuck at COVO that they got the confirmation and are working out some details so they can start the program!
If you would like to help, have questions or would like further information you may contact Brad at bdemery1@aol.com. Their website is located here.
This is a video montage from the National website of Project Healing Waters
The Central Oregon Veteran 