On Sunday, January 28, The Highground staff and volunteers will again welcome bowlers to Bowl Winkle’s Bowling Alley at 1616 N Clairemont Avenue in Eau Claire for the 11th Annual Winter Bowl. This event has always had a strong following with avid supporters bowling to help fund The Highground’s annual Veterans Retreats. Bowlers are invited to join The Highground for a rousing afternoon of bowling in a fun-filled, high-energy environment. Throughout the afternoon, participants will also have the opportunity to snag some tickets for their chance to win something cool from a large assortment of raffle baskets, rail prize drawings and random giveaways.

For six years, The Highground hosted annual Male and Female Veterans Retreats. Thanks to the funds raised from the Winter Bowl, an annual coed Winter Retreat was added in 2021. In 2023, The Highground facilitated its first Female Veterans Ice Age Trail Hike Retreat as well as the “Operation Re-Connect” couples retreat. Every retreat is designed to introduce Veterans, and now their partners, to different resources intended to improve their mind, body, and soul. “I felt empowered instead of deflated”, states a first-time retreat attendee.

The Highground retreats are provided at no cost to the Veterans and couples and each participant leaves the retreats with items related to the weekend’s activities and workshops. The Highground, a non–profit entity, projects to accommodate 20-25 Veterans for each retreat and up to four couples for “Operation Re-Connect”, which is why the organization invites the public to join them for an exciting day of fundraising.

Registration for this family-friendly event is $40 per person and includes three games, a ball, shoes, and pizza with lanes accommodating up to 4 bowlers per lane. To reserve your lane, please call Bowl Winkle’s at 715-552-0564 or The Highground Event Coordinator at 715-743-4224. More information is available on The Highground’s event webpage at thehighground.us/events/11th-annual-winter-bowl.

For upcoming events and more, visit The Highground’s website at thehighground.us or follow them on Facebook at Facebook.com/TheHighgroundVeteransMemorial.

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