“Depression is contagious,” said Deke Letson, as he acknowledged how the lasting personal impacts of deployment in a combat zone can stretch long-past military discharge, impacting not only a veteran, but those close to them, as well.

Letson is familiar with this reality, having served in the Army during a stint from 2003 to 2012, including two deployments to Iraq. At the conclusion of his service, he found himself battling the same mental health struggles he’d seen plague many others, initially turning to coping mechanisms like self-isolation and alcohol to make it through the day. And before you ask, yes, Deke tried traditional types of therapy, but he found it difficult to relate to the young professional sitting across from him in a sterile office as he relived the heavy wartime moments that had landed him in that seat.

Many of those close to servicemen and servicewomen are no stranger to stories like Letson’s. The impacts of post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse, and depression are well-known as common obstacles that many veterans face while making their return to civilian life. The consequences of that reality can be far-reaching, from their ability to tear families apart to how they can drive brave soldiers to ideation of suicide.

Letson realized he wasn’t alone in his struggle, but also knew that traditional tactics weren’t doing much to help. He found himself in desperate need of another option.

Eventually, Letson enrolled in classes at Red Rocks Community College in Lakewood, pursuing a degree in outdoor education. During his time at the school, he came across the idea of wilderness therapy, which led to his experience having a sort of “full circle” moment when he was challenged to ‘create a small business’ as part of his course work. With that challenge, he laid the groundwork for what would become Veterans Exploration Therapy.

“It was a school project gone horribly right,” said Letson.

Inspired by that class project, Veterans Exploration Therapy is all about making it easier for veterans and their families to participate in outdoor recreation activities in hopes that they’ll be able to find some of the same peace that nature brought to Letson.

“Adventure is the catalyst to reach veteran’s who have fallen through the cracks in the system,” said Letson of his newfound passion. “Give a man a fish, that’s one thing. Teach a man to fish and he can fish for life. Same goes for outdoor recreation.”

And that teaching mindset is prominent at Veterans Exploration Therapy events – from how the organization introduces veterans to new activities to how leaders provide expertise that can help make participating in those activities more enjoyable in future endeavors. Letson’s non-profit has hosted 51 events since 2022, reaching 500 people – veterans and their family members.

“Shark diving was our 35th activity of the year,” said Letson of a recent Veterans Day event that took place at Denver Aquarium. But the events don’t stop at shark diving – rock climbing and skydiving are two of Letson’s favorites. Events featuring cross-country skiing, sunset kayaking, and equine therapy are a bit more tame, too.

While Veterans Exploration Therapy aims to take veterans on truly epic adventures around Colorado’s Front Range, there’s more to these events than just the activity – events always tie back to personal healing in some way.

“With skydiving, we ask veterans to write down something they want to ‘jump away from’ before they go,” said Letson. “You don’t have to wait for New Years to make a resolution.”

In addition to encouraged personal reflection that comes with participation in Veterans Exploration Therapy events, Letson also hopes his events help veterans and their family members push past their fears – whether those are physical, emotional, mental, or otherwise.

“Never let your fear stop you from doing something amazing,” said Letson.

For Letson, the fear of seeking additional help kept him from doing so for years.

“I was too big of a man to admit I needed help,” said Letson. “In a way, mental health is a bit like cancer where you can’t wait until ‘Stage Four’ to look for a solution. You’ve got to get help earlier. We try to get veterans help when there’s smoke, not a full-blown wildfire.”

For those thinking Veterans Exploration Therapy events might be what they’re looking for, participation is simple.

“Sign-up and show up,” said Letson.

While Veterans Exploration Therapy operates out of Denver, events take place along the Front Range from Colorado Springs to Fort Collins.

It’s also worth noting that those intrigued by Letson’s non-profit can help to support the organization financially.

“The more we can bring in, the farther we can reach,” said Letson.

Find additional information about Veterans Exploration Therapy here, including a list of upcoming events and a donation portal.