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Good evening everyone! We appreciate all of our incredible volunteers and are looking forward to seeing some of you at the upcoming Veteran Bear Retreat. House in the Woods is looking to add a new team member, a Part-time Housekeeper for the lodge in Lee, Maine. Our current part-time housekeeper is getting married and plans to complete her time with House in the Woods by the end of October. HOUSEKEEPER WANTED House in the Woods (HITW), a nonprofit, located in Lee, ME is seeking a part-time Housekeeper to join our team. DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES: Clean and turn over guest rooms upon guest departure, including removal, washing, folding and replacement of all guest linens, restocking toiletries, removal of trash/debris, sanitizing surfaces, and vacuuming/mopping floors. Be available for clean up after private or community events. Inventory and restock housekeeping carts and replenish supplies in common areas. Clean and tidy common areas including lobby, restrooms, entry ways, corridors, stairways, kitchen, Great Room, storage rooms, and janitorial rooms. Support special cleaning projects when requested by the HITW Management. Immediately report missing/found articles, damaged, or other maintenance concerns noticed while on-site. Greet guests with a warm and friendly greeting. Work with volunteers in a friendly and professional manner. Complete any job-related tasks assigned by HITW Management as necessary. REQUIREMENTS: Must care about people and be passionate about veterans. Must be able to move, lift, carry, push, pull and place objects weighing less than or equal to 25 pounds without assistance. Some flexibility in schedule required as determined by certain retreats throughout the year. Previous housekeeping experience.. Able to pass a background check. High school diploma or equivalent. Preference to veterans or their immediate family. TO APPLY: Application available online at https://www.houseinthewoods.org/employmentopportunities Print application available on request. Email Deanna.House@houseinthewoods.org 20 hours per week at $15.00 per hour. No phone calls please. Applications will close when a suitable candidate is selected. IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN APPLYING FOR THIS POSITION PLEASE COMPLETE THE APPLICATION, AND RETURN TO THE ADDRESS PROVIDED. Have an incredible day and we look forward to hearing from you. Angie

If you're looking for a historical landmark destination with a unique blend of beauty and outdoor recreation then Lee, Maine might be the destination for you! House in the Woods Military & Family Retreat in Lee, Maine has announced their plans, in collaboration with the Woody Williams Foundation, to erect the first Gold Star Families Memorial Monument in the state of Maine adding yet another MUST SEE location for visitors to the state of Maine! Gold Star Families Memorial Monuments are a two-sided tribute made of black granite. One side bears the words: Gold Star Families Memorial Monument, a tribute to Gold Star Families and Relatives who sacrificed a Loved One for our Freedom. The other side tells a story through the four granite panels: Homeland, Family, Patriot, and Sacrifice. At the center of this tribute, is a silhouette of a saluting service member which represents the Legacy of the Loved Ones who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for our Freedom. Together, these features tell each community's unique story based on the Pillars of the Foundation. The Monuments provide a place of permanence for Gold Star Families and their communities, to gather, honor, and remember their fallen Loved Ones, to whom we owe so much. House in the Woods announced this week a PATRIOTIC ART CONTEST that will run through September 22, 2023. This contest is open to all ages and to anyone across the globe. Entries must be original and may be photos, drawings, or paintings with a theme of SACRIFICES MADE BY OUR GOLD STAR FAMILIES. The 3rd pillar of the Gold Star Family Memorial is titled “SACRIFICE”, and the team at House in the Woods could use your help in determining what should be shown on that pillar. We all have a passion for our country, our freedom, and our heroes. Don’t be shy, we all have a message to share. You never know, your work might be selected to stand tall on the 1st Gold Star Families Memorial in Maine, for years to come. Art Contest Rules and entry form can be found at: houseinthewoods.org/artcontest Additionally, The Library of Congress is interested in potentially adding veteran submissions to its Veterans History Project, where they collect, preserve, and make accessible the firsthand recollections of U.S. military veterans who served in World War I through more recent conflicts and peacekeeping missions, so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand what they saw, did and felt during their service. House in the Woods is a 501©3 non-profit hosting veterans, active-duty and gold star families on outdoor retreats for healing and camaraderie. It’s is the perfect location for such a memorial and will open its arms to all who would like to visit Maine. If you’re interested in making a momentary donation towards the building of the WWF Gold Star Families Memorial, donations can be directed to House in the Woods with a memo indicating the Gold Star Families Memorial. The cost of the project is estimated to cost $50,000.00 and will welcome patriots to come to Lee, Maine for healing and camaraderie, from across the globe for years to come. Groundbreaking is planned for the Spring of 2024 and ribbon cutting in the Fall of 2024. Lee, Maine is a beautiful place to visit, with the Penobscot River flowing through town providing plenty of opportunities for fishing, kayaking, and canoeing. The river is also home to a variety of wildlife, including bald eagles, ospreys, bears, and moose, making it a popular spot for nature enthusiasts and photographers. For those who prefer to stay on land, Lee has beautiful parks and trails to explore. The Lee Academy Trail is a popular hiking spot, with a 1.7-mile loop that takes you through a wooded area and offers stunning views of the surrounding countryside. Lee also has several picnic areas and playgrounds, making it a great spot for families. History buffs will appreciate Lee's rich heritage, which dates back to the early days of settlement in Maine. The town was founded in 1832 and named after General Charles Lee, a Revolutionary War hero. In addition to its natural beauty and historic landmarks, Lee should be known for its friendly and welcoming community. The town hosts several annual events, celebrations, and parades which feature live music, food vendors, and a parade with local vendors selling fresh produce, baked goods, and handmade crafts. If you're planning a visit to Lee, there are several lodging options to choose from including several cozy bed and breakfasts as well as campgrounds for those who prefer to sleep out under the stars. And let's not forget a must-stop in Lee is the Harris Family Takeout, surely a must-see and more importantly a must-taste with their delicious lobster rolls and are several restaurants in the area, serving up traditional Maine cuisine such as lobster rolls, hamburgers, and ice cream! Please spread the word if you would and if you're feeling artsy.... submit for yourself! TOGETHER WE HEAL Angie Gade – Development Coordinator House in the Woods Military & Family Retreat info@houseinthewoods.org angie.gade@houseinthewoods.org 207-738-8387

In honor of National Military Appreciation Month what better time is there to consider supporting the mission of GIVING BACK TO OUR MILITARY HEROES. By donating $22 a month you WILL SAVE VETERAN LIVES. If you can, please consider joining the community of generous veteran supporters, keeping these healing outdoor retreats FREE for our veterans. No donation is to small, for the GREAT sacrifices that our veterans have made for our freedoms. Here at House in the Woods, we provide outdoor retreats to veterans at NO COST, so that they can connect with their fellow veterans and feel the healing and camaraderie that they need and deserve so much. Click the link below to make your donation today: https://checkout.square.site/.../NX65MZZPIFOQC3PVKOAKUD6H Thank you for helping make this possible. **PLEASE SHARE IF YOU WOULD BE SO KIND** TOGETHER WE HEAL

House in the Woods Military & Family Retreat is requesting support from our local land owners. We're IN SEARCH OF additional turkey hunting properties in the Lee, Lincoln, Springfield Maine area for our veterans. Outdoor retreats are offered at no cost for veterans, provide a great opportunity to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life, and reconnect with nature and other veterans like themselves, in a way unlike any other, for healing and camaraderie. These retreats are made possible thanks in a large part to our volunteers, donors, and sponsors. Those we lovingly know as the House in the Woods “family” because everyone involved knows the sacrifices these men and women make, and we make it our life mission to show our appreciation and Give Back. House in the Woods is always looking to make new connections with landowners in the Lee, Lincoln, and Springfield areas. Perhaps you have a few acres great for hunting, or a riverfront or lakefront for fishing. If so, we would love to chat with you to see if you’re interested in getting involved with our program. Taking care of our veterans is our number 1 focus. Along with that, we are focused on maximizing the reach of each donor dollar. Our donors entrust us to make the most of these donations and we work hard to find new ways of offering more at a lower expense just like everyone in this day and age. By finding land to hunt closer to the lodge we can utilize the beautiful facility we have there that sleeps 28 with a spacious great room and commercial kitchen. By hunting locally we can utilize the resources we have and keep the expenses to a minimum, making our donated dollars reach farther and reach more veterans. Healing happens when land owners shake the hand of a veteran who will hunt their land, for they see the look in that veteran's eyes and appreciation for the opportunity. These Landowners know they are giving back by sharing the resources available to them. If you are a landowner in the area and would like to know how you might get involved, connect with new friends, give back to our veterans, and change lives, please reach out to us to talk further. We'd love to have you join in on the mission of Giving Back. Who knows, maybe you'll find your healing there too. TOGETHER WE HEAL

It's less than 100 days until House in the Woods and their team plan to break ground on what will be the House in the Woods pavilion on the lodge grounds there in Lee, Maine. Thanks to friends and supporters of our mission, we will break ground on the Pavilion THIS SPRING! Lowe's of Brewer and Lowe's of Bangor are teaming up and donating a long list of misc supplies including 40 galvanized shoes which is an INCREDIBLE support and donation for our veterans and their families. The Pavilion being built at House in the Woods is going to open up even more opportunities for providing healing outdoor retreats for our veterans, and the community that supports them. There will be a ribbon cutting ceremony at our July 15th MUSIC ON THE GREEN celebration at House in the Woods. Join us for great music, good times and above all else, spending time together with each other. Event details to follow. Huge thank you to Bill Dereszewski, Glen Kehr, Traci & Chris Martin of CW Martin Concrete, Inc , S.W. Collins Company , Lowe's. Bangor Maine , Lowe's Home Improvement , Whitmore Contracting, Inc Nicastro's Landscaping, Inc Swim With A Mission Hammond Lumber Company Millinocket Elks Lodge 1521 Dot Kehr Paul House Deanna House @Maddyhartfordstewart @Angie.Gade and all of the individuals that donated to Facebook Fundraisers. @trident_armory_shooting_team

Something very special is happening next week for a group of 18 veterans. Veterans from various parts of the country, from all walks of life, and from a wide range of eras, branches, and occupations will gather on Lake Winnebago in Wisconsin. A group of men and women that until next week have never met, and many who don’t know what to expect. You’ll often hear the House in the Woods team speak of bear, deer, rabbit, or moose hunts, but have you heard of a dinosaur retreat? Far from New England, where right now it’s almost too cold to snow, you’ll find a group of volunteers working tirelessly in preparation for the arrival of our special military heroes. These volunteers have been preparing for this retreat all year and the moment of truth is almost here. Volunteers, businesses, and organizations from around the Lake Winnebago area, are preparing their shanties, equipment, and their hearts to host these 18 veterans for the 2023 2nd Annual House in the Woods Veteran Sturgeon Spearing Retreat on Lake Winnebago. What started as a custom rooted in Native American history long before Europeans arrived on this continent, sturgeon spearing through the icy depths was a tried-and-true method to secure food during the long winters. Early settlers watched on as the Native Americans from tribes such as the Menominee and Ojibwe, not only taught them survival skills but skills that would develop into a cultural tradition passed down from generation to generation. The photo you see here is just a small group of men and women from Wisconsin who have welcomed the House in the Woods organization and our veterans. Thank you, Wisconsin, for welcoming our veterans with open arms, for wrapping them in the love and appreciation that they deserve, and for sharing your time and talents with all of them. The mission of House in the Woods is Giving Back to our military heroes, and their families. Wisconsin has embodied that as they continue to pour out their hearts in thanks to these men and women. What a blessing it is to share this tradition with our veterans, perhaps introducing a tradition that they may carry on with their friends and families after the retreat is over. We gather our veterans together here on this special retreat to share with them not just spearing but allow them an opportunity to connect with other veterans, for a moment of peace, and to show each one of them that we value their lives, we appreciate their service and sacrifice to our country and respect them for their courage. If it were not for the men and women who serve our country, we would not have the freedoms we have today. FREEDOM IS NOT FREE. TOGETHER WE HEAL

Outdoor retreats offered at no cost for veterans, provide a great opportunity to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life, and reconnect with nature and other veterans like themselves, in a way unlike any other, for healing and camaraderie. These retreats are made possible thanks in a large part to our volunteers, donors, and sponsors. Those we lovingly know as the House in the Woods “family” because everyone involved knows the sacrifices these men and women make, and we make it our life mission to show our appreciation and Give Back. There are so many ways in which the community can give back to our veterans. Perhaps you’re good with people and just love spreading the word about retreats available for veterans, maybe you love to cook for people, cleaning, crafting, fundraise, etc. while others are more interested in sharing the tools they have such as helping with land and lodge upkeep, carpentry work, or resources such as the use of the land itself. Resources are all around us, it’s just connecting the dots from the individuals that desire to help to the needs for those gifts. A few keys to a great retreat experience for our veterans are connection with fellow military brothers and sisters, clean and comfortable sleeping arrangements, good food, and a peaceful rejuvenating experience in the beauty of the Maine woods. Our lodge in Lee, Maine provides all of the necessities and so much more. If you haven’t stopped by yet you must visit us soon. We are located on Skunk Hill Road in Lee, Maine. Swing in and say hello. We love visitors and the opportunity to show you around. House in the Woods is always looking to make new connections with landowners in the Lee, Lincoln, and Springfield areas. Perhaps you have a few acres great for rabbit or bird hunting, or perhaps you have long since given up deer or moose hunting, but have found your land to be a hot spot for that type of activity. If so, we would love to chat with you to see if you’re interested in getting involved with our program. Taking care of our veterans is our number 1 focus. Along with that, we are focused on maximizing the reach of each donor dollar. Our donors entrust us to make the most of these donations and we work hard to find new ways of offering more at a lower expense just like everyone in this day and age. By finding land to hunt closer to the lodge we can utilize the beautiful facility we have there that sleeps 28 with a spacious great room and commercial kitchen. By hunting locally we can utilize the resources we have and keep the expenses to a minimum. What's even better than that is the fact that all attendees of the retreat share meals together, spend time before and after the retreat, sharing stories, sharing experiences, and making connections in a way that simply isn't possible at a hotel or split up across several locations. Veteran retreats are not just about hunting as I'm sure you've already gathered, from our previous columns. What they are about, is CONNECTION and time together. That's why our motto is TOGETHER WE HEAL. Together isn't about veterans. Healing happens within the hearts of volunteers that take part, maybe they had a family of veterans and know firsthand the sacrifices made. Healing happens for individuals within the companies and organizations that get involved, for they might have a team full of veterans or gold star family members and know the stories behind the service. Healing happens when land owners shake the hand of a veteran who will hunt their land, for they see the look in that veteran's eyes and appreciation for the opportunity. These Landowners know they are giving back by sharing the resources available to them. Landowners take part in discussions between Paul House, our volunteer guides, and the veterans themselves. They can see and feel firsthand, the impact these retreats have on those attending. This isn't about a hunt, it's about the NOW, getting away from the hustle and having space to breathe. It's about connecting with new friends that more often than not, become lifelong connections. If you are a landowner in the area and would like to know how you might get involved, connect with new friends, give back to our veterans, and change lives, please reach out to us to talk further. We'd love to have you join in on the mission of Giving Back. Who knows, maybe you'll find your healing there too. TOGETHER WE HEAL. House in the Woods 217 Skunk Hill Road Lee, Maine 04455 207-738-8387 houseinthewoods.org angie.gade@houseinthewoods.org FB @houseinthewoodsmilitaryfamilyretreat LinkedIn @houseinthewoodsmilitaryandfamilyretreat

THIS is what supporting Veterans looks like. COLLABORATION among non-profits supporting military heroes. It's not a competition to those who are doing it for the right reason. House In The Woods is proud to collaborate with over 25 like-minded non-profits serving our military heroes and their families. We are proud to call you all friends. All organizations we work with are not shown in this video but they are certainly all represented by what these men have to say in this short video. ⭐️Please listen in and SHARE if you agree! ⭐️ TOGETHER WE HEAL #togetherweheal

The coveted Maine Moose Tag, a hunting retreat long sought after by many Mainahs and hunters from across the country. Some residents have been applying for 30 years or more and have never been selected. With an average of 50,000 applicants annually and just 4,080 permits issued in 2022, you can see why being selected for a Maine moose tag is such an honor. Maine is now one of the top moose-hunting destinations in the U.S. and once you see it for yourself you’ll know why. House in the Woods Military and family retreat is host to a wide variety of incredible hunting retreats for Veterans, one of which is the Maine Moose Hunt, made possible by the donation of tags from those selected through the lottery process. These hunts are further made possible by the amazing volunteer guides who dedicate not only hunting time with their veteran but the many weeks they spend driving north to scout and plan for the absolute best location of lodging and moose location. During the retreat these volunteer guides not only help locate moose but also help in moose collection, cleaning, transportation, lodging needs, food preparation, and every other aspect of this veterans needs. Sponsors who support the organization help to pay for the considerable expense incurred on these retreats including fuel to travel into the North Maine Woods, lodging, food, and other equipment necessary not only to harvest this large animal but also get the moose out of the woods, have the meat processed through a professional butcher and shipping of the meat back to the veterans home. The cost of the entire hunt including everything from flights to shipping meat could run upwards of $10,000.00. Taxidermy is not included and is the responsibility of the attending veteran otherwise all other expenses are paid for by House in the Woods and it’s supporting sponsors. Thanks to the collaborative mindset between House in the Woods and AHERO, David Soto was recommended as a potential participant in this retreat. David is a Purple Heart recipient, a combat-wounded Marine from O’Donnell, Texas, and an incredible man, more than deserving of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. You might find it interesting to know that moose outnumber people three to one in areas of the North Maine Woods with a whopping estimated population of 76,000 moose. That sounds like a sure thing, right? Not exactly. Once you factor in that there are 3.5 million acres of forest land which makes this retreat one that you will remember for a lifetime because although incredibly peaceful and relaxing hunting with your team, this woodland area is going to make you work for it. There are no rangers, no lifeguards, and more often than not, no cell service.  You’ll need to bring in everything you need because it’s a very long way to the nearest gas station. David had nothing to fear as he would be guided by an amazing group of very skilled, qualified, and caring Maine Guides and volunteers. He was joined by the Executive Director of House in the Woods Paul House and volunteers Spencer Randall, Dan Aiken, and Mike McGinnis. David and his House in the Woods support team spent Sunday settling into camp and getting familiar with the lay of the land. Heading to bed early is key as 3 a.m. will come quickly. Truth be told we’re certain there isn’t much sleep with the excitement of the pending hunt in the morning. David shared the experience in his own words, “Monday morning we started glassing for moose, calling for moose in an area we had seen tracks the day before, but nothing called back. We glassed for an hour and a half but no response, so we moved to another area. We move from one cut to another call all morning with no response.” One of the areas you may find moose is a tree clearcut, or an area where most of the trees were logged at the same time and few trees are left standing. 1 year or 2-year-old cuts are ideal for visibility. The moose love to feed on the small saplings and vegetation growing there. “We did a lot of walking and tracking so around 3 p.m. we all decided to take a nap since the time moose move most is in the morning or the evening. After a 20-minute nap, we went back to the location we had been earlier, sat there and called. Nothing responded so we went riding again, we saw two cow moose going up a hill and stopped to watch them. Just 80 yards in front of them we spotted the bull moose, so I took a shot at it coming down the hill and made a clean harvest, leaving him just 80 yards off the road.” David goes on, “Turbo the tracking dog was with us and although it was just a short distance it was impressive to see him work and be part of it all. This was my first-time moose hunting and it was incredible. I did not know about glassing, hiking, or riding, and I learned so much about wildlife in general spending time with Paul and the rest of the team. I enjoyed spotting, stalking, walking, tracking, and looking for sign. Everyone pitched in and helped in every way possible. They were nice, and it was incredible.” Upon their return, they delivered the moose to the butcher who quickly processed the moose before he boarded the plane to head home to Texas later that week. David was able to take back 250 pounds of various cuts such as steaks and ground meat. The rest of the meat processed was donated back to the House in the Woods program where it will be enjoyed by veteran attendees of many other retreats which are held all throughout the year. A moose will provide enough meat to feed a family for several years if processed and packaged correctly. David had this to share about the moose meat, “We had the steaks, made jerky and burgers. My wife loves the ground moose. It’s better than anything we’ve ever had. We have had whitetail, axis, elk, and beef and this beats it all. There’s better flavor and it’s healthier for our family, not to mention our freezer will be full for quite some time. The jerky was incredible, I just seasoned it up before putting it in the dehydrator. I shared it with my coworkers, and it was finished off in one sitting. I may put some in the smoker today too.” His final words about this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity were, “This is by far the greatest experience I have ever had on a hunt. I have been on hunts before, but this is totally different. You work for your harvest rather than just sitting in a blind. I loved spending time with those with me. Thank you to everyone who made this possible.”

House in the Woods Book Recommendation Written by Active Duty hero Justin Jordan Find it here: https://smile.amazon.com/Then-Cried-Stories-Mortuary-Nco/dp/0985558245/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1666706735&sr=8-1

Every veteran has a story, which not all will share. As part of Alex's journey of healing, SHARING is helping him heal. Listen in as Alex shares a window into what that journey feels like, and what part organizations like House in the Woods & Charlie 22 are having as we walk side by side with him, and veterans like him. Love his message... never give up. TOGETHER WE HEAL