First Friday: Healing for Heroes with Tom Nelson
Friday, September 4, 2026
11:00 a.m. – Noon
$8 Adults; $6 Nature Center members
$6 Children 9 – 15
Reservations appreciated, walk-ins welcome.
Join Tom Nelsen, founder of Healing For Heroes – A Disabled Veteran’s Retreat And Wooded Oasis, Inc. to learn more about how a nature can be a source of comfort, healing, and connection for disabled veterans right here in western New York.
After 20 years in the Marine Corp, Tom found solace in the natural world and a passion to share that with others. He founded Healing for Heroes, a non-profit that supports veterans through camaraderie-based day programs, events, and retreats.
The 30-acre wooded property in Bemus Point is the ideal setting for “Woods Therapy”. They host and facilitate activities for the veteran community centered around the outdoors including hunting, birding, and outdoor survival.
They believe that without a healthy environment, they would not be able to share the healing benefits of nature with veterans. To that end, the organization was founded on a strong sense of environmental responsibility. With assistance from other local non-profits, Healing for Heroes is dedicated to responsible stewardship of their land, which includes 3 freshwater streams, multiple natural springs, and over 65 bird species.
About the speaker: Tom Nelsen is the founder, President, and CEO of Healing For Heroes – A Disabled Veteran’s Retreat And Wooded Oasis, Inc. He is a 20-year Marine Corp Veteran. Four combat tours left him with lifelong disabilities, but also the strong desire to help his Veteran community. A self-proclaimed “Nature Boy”, Tom enjoys hunting, fishing, hiking, birding, and more. Through his nonprofit, he is now able to share his multiple passions with Veterans. The organization is 100% donation based and volunteer run. For more information, visit healingforheroesbpny.org