Winter Veterans Retreat 2026

The Highground will host its annual Winter Veterans Retreat January 16-18, 2026

Reset and Reconnect at the three-day retreat January 16-18. Enjoy a few full weekend of restorative activities, good food and fellowship with your fellow veterans. The colder and shorter days of winter present challenges for many individuals and even more so for veterans managing Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS). This three-day retreat welcomes both male and female veterans to experience indoor and outdoor therapeutic recreational activities to put the enjoyment back into winter and to better help manage PTS. The scheduled retreat activities include ice fishing, snowshoeing, PTS Growth workshops, art instruction, good food and camaraderie! Outdoor activities will be dependent on weather conditions. The retreat will take place at The Highground and surrounding areas. Veterans who cannot join for the entire three days are invited to reel-lax on the ice and join us for a day of ice fishing on January 17. Test your skills and enjoy some tranquility on the frozen lake.

Veterans who are registered for the three-day retreat will have lodging arrangements made as part of their reservation at a local motel. Retreat registration is required by Dec 31, 2025. A $50 “Save My Space” fee is required, which will be reimbursed to the veteran when they arrive at the retreat. Registration for the day of ice fishing on Saturday, January 17 is also required by December 31, but there is no “save my space” fee for the ice fishing activity.

To register for the Winter Retreat or the day of ice fishing, email Theresa at museum@thehighground.org or call 715-743-4224 before December 31, 2025.

There will be a limit on how many veterans can be accommodated who do not have their own equipment, etc., so register early! Veterans who are experienced at ice fishing and/or who have their own equipment are still asked to register to get essential information and for the event lunch planning.

This should be the “Free Fishing Weekend” in Wisconsin, but we will confirm that when we get closer to the event. If it’s not the free fishing weekend, we will provide Veterans who don’t have a license with instructions on how to get one. 

Thank you to Borton Construction for sponsoring this retreat.

For upcoming events and more, visit our Calendar of Events or follow us on Facebook at Facebook.com/TheHighgroundVeteransMemorial.

The Highground is located at W7031 Ridge Rd, Neillsville, WI 54456.