Written by: Nicole Rawlinson
Every transition brings its own set of challenges, but it’s the practical steps that help military families feel anchored amid change. In this final post, we share a series of actionable suggestions and resources that service providers can use to help families make the most of nature’s benefits. These tools empower families to connect with local outdoor opportunities and build lasting community ties.
Inspired to help encourage these connections? Service providers working with military families in transition can introduce supportive tools so families are equipped to connect and enjoy the outdoors in various ways:
- Provide a List of Local Outdoor Resources for Newcomers
– Local and state parks – parks within walking distance or a very short drive may be the easiest entry point for families as they transition to a new community.
– National parks – there are over 430 national park sites across the United States and US territories. They are in EVERY state, and every national park tells an important story, preserves a crucial natural resource, or helps us to understand history, culture, and tradition.
– Family-friendly activity resources – families can begin to start making connections in nearby nature just outside the front door with tools like a nature BINGO card, a “getting to know the neighborhood” activity, or interesting facts about the animals and plants native to the area. - Introduce Families to Pass Programs and Other Supports to Mitigate Barriers to Access
– Financial barriers to access and participation may shape a family’s ability to visit public lands or engage in recreational opportunities requiring a license or permit. The America the Beautiful Pass is available annually to active-duty military members and dependents, and the Veteran and Gold Star Pass is a lifetime pass to the individual veteran or Gold Star family members. These passes are available at no cost and cover entrance fees to federally managed lands like national parks. They can be accessed at points of entry at fee-collecting parks and federal lands, or online for a small processing fee. Several states also have programs that offer free or discounted entrance fees to state parks for military members as well as discounted licenses, for example hunting or fishing licenses. Each state has different programs and regulations, so it is important to research and understand those policies at the state and local level. - Promote Nature-Based Events and Programming Through the Installation and the Civilian Community
– Base MWR (Morale, Welfare, and Recreation) offices offer several options for outdoor recreation including gear rentals, programming, and camp and recreation sites. The Best Kept Secrets family campground/RV park list is a helpful tool to identify MWR facilities typically located in a natural setting. The MWR not only offers outdoor opportunities on base, but around the country and along the way to and from the places military families might call home throughout their service.
– Military and Veteran support organizations with active outdoor programming like Blue Star Families, Team Red White and Blue, Sierra Club Military Outdoors, and Military Wild, to name a few, exist to support this very community. Facilitating introductions to their programming unlocks the opportunity for building relationships and community, exposing military members, veterans, and their families to new and exciting activities, and finding a space to share an interest or passion in a new community.
– Drop-in interpretive programming in parks and public lands offers guided talks, junior ranger activities, ranger-guided hikes, and facilitated introductory activities like stargazing or birdwatching, which are all supportive introductory activities that can inspire connection and encourage repeat visitation. Most program provider including local, state, and national parks, as well as local outdoor communities—have programming calendars available online far in advance; families can peruse those opportunities for something that speaks to them if they know where to find them.
– Local networks, resources, or organizations can help connect transitioning families to civilian communities, including participation in public programming on public lands (state, regional, or federal) and connections to affinity or identity-supportive organizations, local clubs, and Extension programs like Master Naturalists, Master Gardeners, and 4H clubs offering a myriad of resources.
– Local public libraries sometimes offer state and local park passes, and may have gear libraries and no-cost or low-cost community programming to support nature connections.
By offering simple, actionable suggestions and creating a supportive environment to discover all the opportunities available through nature, military families can be empowered to feel more connected and rooted in their new communities. This, in turn, fosters a sense of belonging and purpose that transcends the challenges of transition.
References:
Outdoor Rx Coalition. (n.d.). Resources. Retrieved November 13, 2024, from https://www.outdoorrxcoalition.org/resources#research
This post was edited and adapted into a three-part series by Brianna Petracca, with publication dates on May 21, June 11, and July 22, 2025.
About the Author:
Nicole is an active-duty military spouse of 13 years who is currently working in the outdoor space to help ensure people and communities find meaningful connections to nature and public lands. Through her professional experience, she has worked to support intergenerational audiences—both military-connected and civilian—through program development, delivery, and support. She is driven by the idea that all people need and deserve a connection to nature, from connections in micro moments right outside our front doors to big experiences of awe when we see the sweeping landscapes of one of our largest national parks, and everywhere in between.
