Mission
Our mission is to use the game of golf as a catalyst to provide mental wellness education to veterans and first responders.
Donate
By donating to Next 18, you are changing lives. Your support helps veterans and first responders find strength, healing, and connection as they focus on their mental health and wellness through the transformative power of golf. Every donation brings us closer to our goal: providing these life-changing camps free of charge to those who’ve sacrificed so much. Join us in empowering our heroes to heal and thrive—your gift makes all the difference.
Golf Camps
Next 18 offers free, 4-day wellness camps designed for veterans and first responders to support mental wellness and holistic lifestyle practices. At premier golf courses nationwide, 10-12 participants come together in a safe, supportive environment to share experiences, explore personal growth, and break down stigmas around seeking help.
Our program combines golf with wellness modules, introducing participants to practices like yoga, meditation, breathwork, mindfulness, group processing, and more. While we offer a range of resources and supportive activities, Next 18 does not diagnose or treat mental health conditions. Instead, we focus on providing a foundation for wellness, self-awareness, and resilience.
Beyond the camps, Next 18 fosters an ongoing peer community, ensuring participants remain connected and continue to access resources that support their journey long after camp ends.
While we provide a myriad of resources, training, and support, Next 18 does not diagnose or treat any pre-diagnosed or undiagnosed mental health concerns. As part of our ongoing support and encouragement to our participants, we foster a peer community after camps and provide a multitude of resources.
Our Impact
Camps Completed
attendees from 37 states
On a waitlist from 48 states
%
Veteran / Active Duty
%
First Responder
Youngest Participant
Oldest Participant
%
100% of respondents said that camp helped them realize they are not alone and that people in their lives are open to talking about trauma.
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91% of participants strongly agreed that they gained insight into past trauma and better understood their emotions.
%
82% strongly agreed that they were mentally in a better place post-camp than before attending.
%
73% felt more emotionally comfortable talking with their spouse, kids, and family about trauma by the end of camp, a direct indicator of improved relational and family health.
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100% of participants agreed or strongly agreed that the mental health and holistic tools provided are usable and beneficial for leading a healthier, happier life.
Testimonials
“I’ve been through counseling and anger management classes, but I’ve never been in a group where I felt this safe to speak. I said things here I’ve never said out loud, because I wasn’t judged. Next 18 created the kind of environment that lets healing actually begin.”
“Everything was done for us, from the meals to the housing to the emotional support. It was the first time in years I felt like I could stop surviving and just be. That space… it changed me.”
“This camp didn’t just help me, it gave my family a version of me they haven’t seen in years. I came home calmer, more open, and more present. My wife saw it before I even said a word.”
“I would’ve never signed up for a ‘mental health retreat,’ but golf got me in the door, and the way this was structured, it felt like it was made exactly for people like me. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“In four days, strangers became brothers. We laughed, cried, and held space for each other in a way that I’ve never experienced before. I didn’t know this kind of safety existed for people like us.”
