Thank you for supporting our mission, BRBR Family!
We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported our mission through multiple fundraisers during Mental Health Awareness Month this May! Thanks to your generosity, we raised over $35,000 through fundraisers like Midlands Gives, Seen Through Horses, The Palmetto GBA Community Impact Initiative, and our Memorial Day flag fundraiser at 518 Smokehouse. Your contributions will help heroes continue to thrive at the Big Red Barn Retreat, so thank you very much!
Keep reading to discover the latest happenings at The Big Red Barn Retreat. This month, in honor of National PTSD Awareness Month, we have a host of exciting events, volunteer opportunities, and other ways to get involved with our organization.
If you're interested in how to turn your struggle into strength and find your path to PTG, read below!
P.S. Sign up for text updates from The Big Red Barn Retreat by texting "START" or "SUBSCRIBE" to +1 (803) 866-5752!
Post-Traumatic Growth Day
Annually on June 13th
For too long, society has focused solely on the negative impacts of trauma. This narrative of dysfunction and diagnosis can feel debilitating, leaving veterans and first responders feeling permanently diminished. It’s time to change the conversation and highlight how struggle can lead to profound growth and transformation.
This June 13th, the Big Red Barn Retreat invites you to join us in spreading the word about Post-traumatic Growth. Help us raise awareness and support by sharing stories of turning personal struggles into strength. Visit choosegrowth.org for more information about this year's PTG Day!
"I am an eighth-generation homesteader, and sharing my gardening knowledge is my passion. I have learned gardening the hard way, by working out in the field, but also from tapping into the wisdom from generations of community members at the Red Barn Retreat. Along with some of the old ways of growing, I have sought out new and innovative ways to grow what we eat.
I am no stranger to the Red Barn, as I was a garden volunteer on and off through the years, as I was needed. I am happy to be able to work with the Red Barn volunteers as we plant a fabulous garden, which will support their kitchen. The cooks have made some really cool dishes using what they have harvested out of the garden! I look forward to a great year ahead in the garden, and can't wait to meet all the volunteers. Let's get growing!" - Sal
The Dam Boat Run at Lake Murray, from June 21st to June 23rd, features incredible powerboats, attracting enthusiasts for two days of thrilling performances while raising support for the BRBR's programs and services for veterans and first responders. It's a showcase of nautical beauty and power in support of important causes. Why wait, sign up for some summer fun today!
The Big Red Barn Retreat Military Appreciation Pairing Dinner
Veterans Give Back Week at The Hollow, Columbia SC
Join The Big Red Barn Retreat and The Hollow for a Pairing Dinner on July 16th, 17th, and 18th, from 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM at 823 Gervais St, Unit 100, Columbia, SC.
Enjoy a four-course meal crafted by Chef Danté Serra and Beverage Director Grant McCloskey, featuring dishes like Wild Boar Belly and Venison Tenderloin, each paired with a unique cocktail.
Tickets are $125, including tip and taxes, with 10% of sales supporting The Big Red Barn Retreat's programs for Post-Traumatic Growth. You won't want to miss this chance to give back while indulging in an exquisite dining experience!
Join us for The Big Red Barn Retreat's upcoming golf tournament on September 16th, 2024, at the exclusive Members Club at Wildewood Golf Course!
Enjoy a day of golf, delicious food, and the chance to win high-value prizes like portable Yeti coolers. Register your team today to participate, or have your business sponsor this exciting event to show your support for veterans and first responders.
Introducing our NEW Peer-to-Peer Coffee Group in Greenville, SC!
In partnership with Upstate Warrior Solution
We are excited to invite you to our new coffee group for veterans AND first responders in Greenville, SC! It's a weekly meetup at the Upstate Warrior Solutions Rupert Huse Veteran Center where veterans and first responders can come together to share their stories, connect with their peers, and relax with a good ol' cup of Joe.
Click on the image here for GPS directions and join us this week!
VETERANS: Unwind, relax, and connect with your peers at the BRBR!
At the Log Cabin Every Friday Morning at 9:30 AM
Join us for coffee at the Log Cabin every Friday morning at 9:30 AM for our Veteran Peer-to-Peer Groups. Connect with fellow veterans, share your experiences, enjoy the nature within our beautiful 75 acres, and forge lasting friendships in a supportive setting.
No pre-registration required!
Peer-to-Peer Coffee Groups at the BRBR are sponsored by Caliber Coffee, thank you for your support!
Form Up Fridays
June 28th Session
Discover strategies for stress management, self-regulation, and self-care through the power of horses with us during our upcoming Form Up Friday session on June 28th!
Boost personal development, acquire new life skills, and enhance your well-being through the power of horses. Sign up for our June Form Up Friday session now!
We have current openings in our Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) program!
EAP provides hands-on, experiential interaction with our horses to receive immediate feedback and engage in creative problem-solving to overcome life's challenges.
Clients say “I gained more from one session than I did from years of traditional therapy.” EAP assists with dealing with anxiety, depression, PTSD, trauma, relationship struggles and a variety of other issues. Mindfulness, coping skills, and creating a new story are all part of the process. Don’t miss out - complete our interest form today! EAP services are provided at no cost to veterans and first responders.
Transcendental Meditation Training
FREE Training by Donielle Freeberg at the BRBR
Transcendental Meditation, or TM, is a meditation technique that allows those struggling with stress and anxiety to calm their nervous system and reconnect the mind, body, heart and spirit. This practice is free of any religion, philosophy, or belief system and involves repeating a mantra in one's mind until reaching a state of inner peace.
The goal of TM is to learn to notice distracting thoughts and return to your mantra to help promote a relaxed state of awareness. After practicing TM twice a day for 15–20 minutes, many say the practice helps them reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, lower blood pressure, improves sleep patterns, and more! Sign up for our June training today using the purple button here!
Help us reset the cabin for our next Warrior PATHH class!
We're currently seeking small groups to volunteer each Thursday for a vital task: resetting the cabin for the next class. This commitment provides our WP PATHH guides with the chance to return home, rejuvenate, and cherish time with their loved ones.
Sign up for the next cabin reset group by clicking the button here!
SIGN-UP NOW, volunteer time-slots get filled quickly!
Join us in the BRBR kitchen to make a positive impact on the lives of veterans and first responders! Work alongside talented chefs to prepare meals during the 7-day stay in the BRBR Log Cabin. Click to sign up and be part of something rewarding!
**Please be advised: While we try our best to make sure each volunteer is assigned a time slot, Warrior PATHH Food Prep volunteering is assigned on a first come, first serve basis. You are not assigned a volunteer time slot until you have received a confirmation email from the Big Red Barn Retreat. Thank you!**
The Effects of Post-Traumatic Growth
Posttraumatic growth is a transformative process resulting from challenging experiences, prompting individuals to reflect on their identity and life's purpose. Veterans and first responders often find that navigating this process enhances their lives, fostering authenticity, meaning, and purpose.
Five key areas of growth emerge, including newfound hope, deeper interpersonal connections, personal resilience, gratitude for life, and a spiritual shift involving profound existential inquiries.
Discover the potential for posttraumatic growth in your journey by taking the first step – sign up for the Warrior PATHH program using the buttons below today to embark on a transformative path towards resilience and purpose.
