At the Overland Expo Foundation, we believe the most powerful form of healing often comes from connection—people coming together in meaningful places with shared understanding. For Mind Over Land, that belief is the foundation of every trip they lead.
In 2025, with support of a $7,500 grant from the Overland Expo Foundation, Mind Over Land delivered an extraordinary year of impact—expanding far beyond its original goals to serve 101 veterans across nine fully funded trips and events, all at no cost to participants. What began as a plan to serve 80 veterans became something much larger: a growing, peer-driven community rooted in trust, shared experience, and purpose.
Veterans Helping Veterans
Every Mind Over Land trip is intentionally designed to foster connection. These are not guided tours or one-off events—they are peer-led experiences where veterans support veterans in environments that feel familiar, safe, and grounding.
By removing barriers of cost, isolation, and stigma, participants were able to step out of their homes and back into community. Across deserts, forests, and backcountry trails in 10 states, veterans shared stories, rebuilt confidence, and rediscovered a sense of belonging—often for the first time in years.
"I came expecting just a distraction for the weekend. I left with hope, a brotherhood, and my first real laugh in months."
Stewardship That Restores Land and Self
Environmental stewardship remained a core component of every Mind Over Land experience. Veterans didn’t just travel through public lands—they actively cared for them.
Throughout the year, participants:
- Collected over 1,435 pounds of trash from trails and campsites
- Removed 45+ downed trees in coordination with the U.S. Forest Service
- Received Tread Lightly education on all nine trips, reinforcing responsible recreation and Leave No Trace principles
By pairing stewardship with healing, Mind Over Land closed the loop between caring for the land and caring for one another—ensuring that the places providing restoration today remain open and healthy for future visitors.
Impact That Goes Beyond the Trail
While the numbers tell part of the story, the most meaningful impact happened after participants returned home. Veterans reported improved mental health, reduced isolation, strengthened family relationships, and renewed purpose.
One veteran wrote, “My kids said I came home different. They told me I finally seemed like myself again.”
Mind Over Land is also proud to report zero injuries, zero medical emergencies, and zero suicides among participants in 2025—reflecting the strength of peer support, intentional leadership, and the protective power of community.
Mind Over Land exemplifies what’s possible when adventure, stewardship, and community come together with intention. These trips don’t just change weekends—they change trajectories, families, and futures.
Get Involved
If you’re interested in supporting the efforts of Mind Over Land visit their website at: mindoverland.org
*All photos courtesy of Mind Over Land
Become a member of the Overland Expo Foundation to help fund similar on-the-ground projects. Visit our News & Projects page to learn more about past projects.
By investing in people and places, the Overland Expo Foundation is proud to support programs that use adventure as a pathway to lasting impact—on the trail, in communities, and in the lives of those who serve.