For ten years, Valor Adventures have been built around one simple idea: place veterans and Gold Star children side by side on a mission that challenges them to trust one another, overcome obstacles together, and create memories that last a lifetime. As we celebrated our 10th year of adventures, we knew our 15th mission had to be something truly unforgettable. Father’s Day weekend set the stage for Time Crisis, our most immersive mission yet.
Hosted at Strategic Operations, our veteran and Gold Star teams were transported into a high-stakes operation where every decision mattered. Most importantly, this adventure is hosted on Father’s Day weekend, a particularly difficult weekend for the Gold Star Community. We are proud to make it our mission to fill this weekend with excited anticipation instead — a day dedicated to fun, connection, and honoring the men these families and our nation have lost.
Their mission would send them across multiple time periods, requiring them to recover critical artifacts, decode clues, defuse an explosive device, and ultimately secure a four-story shoot house before time ran out. Along the way, they encountered unexpected twists, evolving objectives, and plenty of moments that demanded calm under pressure and complete trust in one another.
From the moment the mission began, teamwork became the greatest tool each pair possessed. Every challenge required communication, observation, critical thinking, and a willingness to rely on one another. Veteran mentors naturally stepped into roles of encouragement and leadership while allowing their Gold Star partners to make discoveries, solve problems, and build confidence with every success. Watching those relationships deepen throughout the day is what these adventures are truly all about.
While the teams were fully immersed in their mission, our Gold Star spouses enjoyed one of our favorite traditions. Every Valor Adventure intentionally provides these incredible women with an opportunity to step away, rest, and spend meaningful time together. As friendships continue to grow from one adventure to the next, these moments of community have become just as impactful as the adventures themselves, creating a support system that extends far beyond a single weekend. This year’s theme included a Stars and Stripes Farmer’s Market, allowing each mom to shop through a host of carefully curated items designed to bring a sense of homegrown ‘calm’ to their lives, even after the adventure. While their kids were off saving the world, they got to slow down to enjoy each other’s company over a rustic table of pottery painting, prepared with growing their own garden in mind.
As our teams made their way through smoke-filled hallways, searched for hidden clues, raced against the countdown clock, and celebrated each mission accomplished, one thing became abundantly clear: this adventure wasn’t about completing objectives—it was about building confidence. Every obstacle overcome became another reminder that challenges become more manageable when someone is beside you, encouraging you every step of the way. And, of course, a little healthy competition never hurt, either.
Celebrating ten years of Valor Adventures also gave us the opportunity to reflect on the thousands of moments that have brought us here. For a decade, veteran mentors have continued saying “yes” to serving again—not on a battlefield, but in the lives of children who need steadfast role models. Gold Star families have found community, healing, and lasting friendships. None of it would be possible without the countless volunteers, sponsors, and supporters who faithfully invest in this mission year after year.
To our volunteers who transformed Strategic Operations into an unforgettable experience, our partners who made this ambitious mission possible, and every person who continues to believe in the mission of Active Valor—thank you. Your generosity created far more than an exciting day. You created opportunities for healing, laughter, mentorship, and memories that these families will carry with them for years to come.
None of this would have been possible without the incredible partners who stood behind us for our 15th adventure. A huge thank you to our Title Sponsors, ADS Inc and LB Charitable Foundation, for their continued and generous support of our mission. Thank you to our Honor Sponsors, Nighthawk Cyber and Duncan Firearms Training Academy, and to our gear sponsors, Vortex Optics, Alien Gear Holsters, and Eberlestock, for equipping our teams with mission critical gear. And of course, a huge thank you to Strategic Operations for opening their doors and giving our families a training ground unlike any other.
Ten years, fifteen adventures, and countless memories later, this community continues to show up in ways that leave us in awe. What started as one adventure has grown into a decade of showing up for our Gold Star families and veteran mentors, and we couldn’t have done it without every mentor, sponsor, volunteer, and family who has been part of the journey. Thank you for following along and cheering us on for a whole decade — here’s to the next ten years.
Please take a moment to enjoy the day with us by watching the event recap below!