Written by B4 Outdoors Board Member Lance DeJonge
I consider myself a passionate outdoorsman. I love the thrill of the hunt, the tug on a line, the joy you feel when hard work, determination, passion and a little luck all come together for a moment in time. I’ve been passionate about it since I could walk, but as I grow older, I’ve learned there’s far more to God’s great outdoors than chasing that feeling.
I had the great opportunity of meeting B4 President Kevin Rhodes in June of 2018 and instantly realized that B4 Outdoors looked at the wild differently. I was drawn to the concept of “rehabilitation through outdoor adventures” because it seemed so foreign yet made so much sense. I quickly recognized that being in nature was a form of therapy, but most were living too busy of lives to realize it. It was that very fact; that one must slow down to recognize the therapeutic concept of nature, that’s what made it so simple yet powerful.
Since 2019, I’ve had the incredible experience of watching B4 Outdoors transform into a grassroots powerhouse of a non-profit. I’ve watched it’s impact on countless military members, veterans, women, youth, law enforcement officers and first responders. Not only have I watched it, I’ve been part of it. I’ve guided hunters, heard their stories, reminisced at the fire and watched lives changed. I’ve sat in the woods waiting for a shot to ring out so I can share in a celebration, and in that time, I’ve enjoyed the very therapy that nature offers to each guest B4 Outdoors hosts.
Not only have I had this experience, but I know several volunteers that have supported B4 Outdoors that have felt the same way. Each person that has come to the lodge to help hang stands, plant food plots, trim shooting lanes or spend a weekend working on The Colonel’s Cabin have all shared in the joy that B4 Outdoors brings. Each volunteer shares a page in the story of B4. They’ve all helped write the legacy, share in the growth, change a life. It’s a powerful experience, and it makes the therapy that nature brings even stronger.
Fast-forward to 2024, the 5th year I’ve been blessed to be a board member of B4 Outdoors, and I couldn’t be more proud of this organization. B4 Outdoors has expanded from a hunting operation to so much more thanks to volunteer efforts. This year, B4 Outdoors will host youth and adults on fishing adventures, family trips whitewater rafting, and hunting adventures pursuing over 5 different species of game. The growth of this organization is something to be proud of, and it’s only made possible through the endless passion of Kevin Rhodes and the small army of volunteers that help each year. 