Stonington — Veterans participate in a Ruck Up event at Veterans Equine Therapeutic Services on Sunday, April 10, 2022. This was the first year for the two-day event produced by Veterans Equine Therapeutic Services and Honored American Veterans Afield. It was planned to offer participants valuable life skills in a trusted environment.

"We strive to create an environment where we can get veterans together and build on that trust through shared experiences," said Thor Torgersen, the board president of VETS. Classes, which were all free, included equine therapy, archery, rifle and pistol arts and outdoor skills.

"We want them to learn life skills they can apply to everyday decisions on top of fun outdoors stuff," Torgersen said of the program.

Torgersen said they named the weekend Ruck Up to refer to the packs service members carry as well as the baggage we carry through life.

"We want to give them the tools in their bag, both literally and metaphorically, to get thorugh life," he said.

At the end of the weekend participants were given donated rucks packed with survival kits including items from fire starters and first aid kits to wool blankets and emergency tents.