On September 11 the 2025–2026 season began with a splash—literally—as nine patients from the Soldiers Recovery Unit at Fort Sam Houston joined volunteers from Wounded Warriors at Nebo Ministry and Veterans Adventure Therapy aka Olympic Outdoor Center for a day of kayaking on the San Marcos River.

We gathered at Kirby Lane Café in San Marcos, where the morning began with a delicious brunch and lively conversation. Spirits were high, and the weather couldn’t have been more perfect—God truly gifted us a day made for adventure.

After brunch, we ported canoes from the restaurant to the riverbank. Life vests were secured, safety tips shared, and soon our group was gliding down the river. Those of us not kayaking headed to the nearby park, home to two scenic waterfalls. While waiting for the group to arrive, we watched children and adults tube over the falls and body surf in the rapids—pure joy in motion.

When our kayakers reached the falls, two volunteers led the way, navigating the first drop and positioning themselves below the second to assist others. We quickly learned there were many ways to tackle the falls:

• Landing safely in the rapids and gliding through the second drop
• Drifting around and descending the second drop backwards
• Getting stuck on the rocks at the entrance
• Attempting a backward descent and flipping on landing

Thanks to our quick-thinking volunteers, even the most adventurous paddlers were met with support and encouragement. It was a day filled with laughter, courage, and connection.

Events like these remind us of the healing power of nature, community, and shared experience. Whether paddling through rapids or cheering from the shore, we were all part of something meaningful.

Stay tuned for more adventures this season—we’re just getting started.

A few of the photos from Thursday’s outing can be viewed by following this link  Photos – Wounded Warriors at Nebo    these and many more can be found at Zenfolio | Dave Roberts | Kayaking SM 2025 09. (It’s worth checking them out especially with the slideshow option)  Remember that there is more than one page of photos and that they may be downloaded by hovering your cursor in the upper-left corner of a full-sized photo.  Feel free to share the links with the participants, employees, and other interested persons.