They have been REVITALIZED
"There's something calming and reassuring about being around people that get you. The point of the togetherness with Revital is to primarily have fun, while also giving a nod to some of the things we carry with us that aren't so fun. But through Revital we can tap into a community that creates space for intentionally healing as well as resources to get there with fun opportunities to feel revitalized." - Galeton Fire
"First responders rarely leave the job at the station when coming off duty, and it can be difficult to disconnect and restore whether it's from the things we see and do on a call, overtime, e-mails, or abnormal schedules that don't match up with the rest of the world. By taking a few hours to participate in a low-pressure activity with others who have shared many of the same experiences, Revital helps connect responders both with each other and with life and career-changing resources to ensure we can be the best responders possible both on and off duty." - Louisville Firefighter
"Revital means a lot to me since it helped me through a very dark period of my life. Connecting with Revital has honestly bettered my life and helped me stay on this earth. Being around other responders that are struggling as well helps all of us heal and connect. When you think you’re alone in the battle you are not. Doing outings and hosting them as well really helps me mentally and I understand I am not alone in my journey." - Retired Brighton PD
"Being a part of Revital has been an incredible experience for me. Their compassion and love have had a profound impact on my life, allowing me to have a fresh start mentally and become a better husband, family member, friend, and coworker. The selfless service and genuine care that Revital provides to first responders is truly remarkable. I am immensely grateful for Revital and eagerly look forward to participating in another community event and enjoying the blessings it brings." - Castle Rock Fire
"I have always been an outdoorsman and would love getting outside to get away from the stressors in life. With working so much and not taking time for myself, it was taking a toll on my mental health and family life. Connecting with Revital was best thing that has happened to me. They helped me get back to what makes me happy and reminded me that I need to take time for myself to be able to be fully there for my family. They also have reminded me that I am not fighting the good fight alone and all of our police and fire brothers in blue are there for me. You guys are life savers!!!" - Douglas County Sheriff
"Hockey has been a rewarding and exciting outlet that I've been using as a tool for not only my physical health, but my mental health too. It gives me a sense of camaraderie and community that revitalizes me and helps me decompress. I feel that I’m not only just showing up for myself, but other first responders around me as well." -Thompson Valley
"I fully enjoy my Revital outings and connecting, or reconnecting, with new and old friends. It’s easy to feel forgotten once retired. It’s fulfilling to share some memories and even some wisdom with younger responders. It reminds you that your career had purpose and meant something." -Retired Police Officer
"This was my first event, but once I heard about the program I couldn’t help but think of ways I could help it grow. I was able to meet other first responders and make new friendships that I probably wouldn’t have otherwise. With the way of the world right now and the general discontent towards law enforcement, it was a great feeling knowing that someone in this line of work, actually cares about us. My mood instantly changed for the better as I prepared for my first event. I haven’t been able to stop telling my friends about it and encouraging them to join." - Longmont PD
"Revital facilitates connections between first responders doing activities they can enjoy together. There are a variety of great activities to choose from, and good people hosting you who 'get it'. I've found it hard to practice many of the wellness options suggested through my fire department DURING work hours because, as first responders, we have no control over what the day will throw at us. Revital has introduced me to meaningful ways to connect with other responders and to totally new hobbies (fly fishing!) Everyone involved has been very generous and genuine, and I always come back from an outing feeling more refreshed and ready to take on this life we choose." - Westminster Firefighter
My police department Wellness Unit needed to get away from the cell phones and spend time with spouses that had been neglected over the years with our hectic/never ending peer support call-outs and phone calls etc. Jordan followed though with everything he presented about and met our specific needs to build/facilitate a retreat focused around couples reconnecting. Eagle's Summit lodge was perfectly amazing. The entire facility was awesome. The week was filled with outdoor activities ranging from ATV rides in the national forest, shooting, bonfires, horseback riding, couples collage making, painting, and whitewater rafting. Mental health/couples communication and a debriefing were appropriately sprinkled in. The highlight for me was the meals!!! Jordan and Kym brought in Chef Albert to prepare all our meals. I have never eaten food like this over open flames. Each meal was an experience to remember. I have peered Post Critical Incident Seminars for the last 7 years. The experience of this retreat far outweighs any PCIS I have attended or peered! Great job Revital! I would highly recommend to anybody from the first responder world wishing to attend. - OKC PD Wellness Unit
But the best part was I was able to actively listen to my wife express her needs for our relationship and our family. We found the time to talk about our concerns, appreciations, and love for one another without interruption from work or our busy schedules. After 27 years of marriage, I can honestly say this was the best couples retreat experience, we both agreed it was incredible. I highly recommend it to all First Responders and their spouses. - OKC PD Wellness Unit
"Simply taking a break from the firehouse and experiencing an amazing horseback ride in the beautiful Rocky Mountains helped me reset. I was able to reflect on my life and how blessed I am with my family, my career and my support network. I also was able to connect with people in the group which made the experience even more meaningful. Revital took the financial burden of an activity with no strings attached. I have only ridden horses once before and absolutely loved it. Thanks Revital! I will be signing up for more outings." - Frederick Fire
"Being a mom to a little one who still needs so much of my attention and being pregnant, working, and trying to be supportive of a husband who is battling mental health issues and next steps in life, there’s not much time left for “me” time. I have an amazing support system but unfortunately all my family lives out of state. It was nice to be able to get out and do something on my own where I didn’t have to think about anything that is stressing me out." - Retired PD Spouse
"The outings have reboot my desire to push my self physically and spiritually. My family and I have too much to be thankful for since Revital was introduced into our lives."
What I get out of Revital is an opportunity to allow myself to get away from my everyday routine. Reminding myself that there is a lot of life to live and to be engaged with it. Learning to balance work, family and my personal life is a work in progress. Thank you for reminding me how they all need balance. - Thom Jefferies ACFR
"We've had a hard year, and were definitely not feeling the Christmas spirit. It's usually one of the absolute best parts of our year. Having this event planned out and handled for us was just seriously so magical. We were stress-free, our kiddo had an absolute BLAST, and us not having to plan or coordinate anything was so nice. The fact that it was free made it all the better! We loved the whole trip, and I hope it's a yearly event going forward!" -911 Dispatcher
"This is our first Revital outing, and it meant that we were able to have a fun night out without the financial stress, and as an added bonus got to meet other first responder couples that we otherwise would not have met. My husband and I are both introverts and meeting other first responder friends from different agencies in a setting like this feels like such a blessing. We talked the whole drive home about how thankful we are to Jordan and Kym for such an amazing organization." -Police wife
"A space to breathe/relax. To do something FUN as a couple or family. Knowing that you are on the same page as the other people attending- recognizing this is a unique career and mental health and community are important." - West Metro Firefighter
"The outing for me means that I can decompress and talk about difficult subjects in a safe space. I know I can be honest and not have to worry about being judged or looked down upon." - Louisville Firefighter
"Knowing there are other people going through the same things has helped me tremendously. Since I started doing these activities I am more open with everyone regarding my mental health. One never knows what someone else is going through, so I encourage everyone to seek help."- Adams County Firefighter
"This was my first outing with Revital. This outing gave me the chance to talk with other responders from other agencies and validate I am not the only one going through challenges. The outing was very laid back and very enjoyable. This outing also helped me get through a fear of being around firearms again and work through it. It was very enjoyable to shoot again and know I tackled that obstacle and enjoy something I love again." - Retired Brighton PD
"It's the only thing right now that helps me get out of the house and my headspace. It's really healing to be in a positive place with other people in the industry."
"Revital has gone above and beyond by helping first responders find a healthy outlet and bring people together for life long friendships." -Taylor Swearengin ACFR
"This outing reminded me that there is a caring community for first responders that are willing to help each other as much as we help everyone else." - Evans Firefighter
Revital is a way that I can let loose and decompress when my bucket is full. It has taught me that others are with me. It has taught me to take a break when I can to do the things that I love. - Adams County FF Engineer Mike Eason
"It was an awesome experience! The opportunity to get away for a few days and almost completely unplug from the rest of the world was just what we needed. The skills we learned and the folks we met were the cherry on top of an already amazing weekend." -Testimonial from Couples Retreat
"This trip could not have come at a better time. I was extremely low on patience with my partner and had almost told him that I didn't want to go because I had been so frustrated with him and our relationship the week before. The thought of spending time picking apart and analyzing all the tough parts of our relationship felt too big, and I came into the retreat resigned to have a miserable time. However, one of the first things Jordan said was that we weren't going to bring up all the bad stuff, that we were going to learn some tools and enjoy time with each other, and that is exactly what we did! What a relief. We relaxed and tried fun new activities together, learned some great new conflict resolution tools, connected with other couples, and laughed the entire time. Since the retreat, we've been using some of the tools for our tough real-world problems and have seen amazing results. We understand each others' personality more and that allows us to give each other more grace during a disagreement. Thank you for this amazing opportunity!" -Testimonial from couples retreat
"We did not enter into this in a bad position, however every relationship is vulnerable and this was a time for us to really reconnect and disconnect which was much needed. As mentioned in front of everyone I find it very important the style that you guys presented making things real and real life issues not a professional preaching to us. Responders respond much better that way to conversation and exercises. Not having a stacked schedule was also beneficial for me everything was very well orchestrated and laid out timewise, the free time is beneficial as well. I believe in what you guys are doing and would love to be a bigger part in the future if there’s anything I can provide much respect!!" -Testimonial from couples retreat
"My tangible takeaway from this trip was taking the emotional needs questionnaire about what matters most to our partners, what their #1 to #5's are and what makes them feel appreciated and loved. I loved how it allowed us to spend a lot of one on one time together to do some stuff we love outdoors. This was a nice quiet weekend to get away from the kids and our busy lives. It was fun getting to know the other couples and to know we all share similar struggles in our lives. Two tangible items I take away are the couples collage and to honor your wife and the phrase "hear it or fix it." We have used these phrase multiple times since the retreat." - Testimonial from couples retreat
These trips are a way to connect and be near like minded people that understand what it’s like to experience the hardships of our jobs. Was amazing to meet new people in the area and hopefully form some friendships. - Louisville FF
Revital is the best thing that’s happened to first responder mental health. Thank you Revital!
"Revital is an amazing organization that has not only helped me decompress from work stressors, but life stressors as well. Being a 2 responder household can sometimes be tough, but with the outings, trainings, and support from Revital we have both found different outlets that help us each individually, therefore helping us being better partners to each other. Thank you for everything you do Revital!" - Boulder Firefighter
"I really enjoyed getting to be out and about with other people that understand my similar life but don’t just talk and complain about work the whole time. It was awesome to be surrounded by such a welcoming group!" -Northglenn PD Priscilla Duke
"It’s so great to just get outside and meet people and do things I wouldn’t normally do. Especially on day one when I’m exhausted. Helped set the tone for the rest of my days off and leave work at work." -Adams County Fire Medic Whitney Holtan
"It provides a community of like minded people to enjoy events outside of our stressful work life. I’m just thankful there is a organization I feel I can fit into and learn how to be a better firefighter, husband and friend." -Blackhawk Firefighter Jordan Stone
"One of the things that I appreciate about Revital is that nobody is very concerned with rank. I can freely learn from and talk with someone without ever knowing their rank or position. It is pleasant to talk with higher ranked individuals without having the concern of hierarchy in the back of my head." - Firefighter Matt Mason
"Revital’s fly fishing trip tapped into my passion that I hope others can also appreciate and enjoy. It’s a healthy obsession that helped me in more ways than I can count. Jordan and Cory were kind and compassionate. They set the stage for fishing and open conversation. The experience on my first trip was therapeutic. Even though it was 6 degrees out the cold only added to my time spent on the water. Revital’s fly fishing trip allowed me to engage my mind and relax in a beautiful setting. I believe first responders will benefit from Revival’s events by checking out from their day-to-day lives and reconnecting with themselves and others." -Boulder Firefighter
"I love the mission of Revital. It’s so great to let loose with other first responders and interact outside of work without distractions. I really enjoyed my time and didn’t check my phone once during the outing. Thank you so much!" -ACFR Firefighter
"I love having the opportunity to connect with other fire spouses/families and I have so appreciated the resources for my husband. Even if he's "just" going to something fun (like Roping), I love that he's connecting with other FFs and getting out of his comfort zone. He's otherwise pretty introverted and this is really helping him get out and do things!" -Thornton Firefighter Wife
"These outings are a great way for me to connect with other responders that I do not regularly work with or know. Family outings are a way to help my family understand the community and involve them into the first responder community and help them as well make those same connections to other families." - Adams County Firefighter Scott Carscadden
"It offers great activities for my family and I without financial stress of making them happen. I really appreciate connecting with people who are in similar walks of life with young children/ families and who can relate to some of the stressors of the job- outside of my “normal” circle."
"This was an awesome experience. Was great to connect with people from different walks of life and see certain similarities we all shared. It lets you know there are others out there that are going through things also and have overcome their adversities." - St. Louis LEO, Will Bates
"It was great to get out of my normal post-shift routine and connect with other first responders over a great activity and a shared meal. Despite leaving the climbing gym with worn hands and sore forearms, I made some great connections and felt reinvigorated for my days off shift." -
Thank you Revital and After the Alarm. I enjoyed spending time at Eagle Summit Ranch and having the opportunity to sit and talk with some amazing people. The activities allowed me to connect with others in a positive way that will be remembered for years to come. It is unfortunate that we lose track of ourselves in our busy everyday lives. This outing allowed me connect with myself and others around me. Gathering around for our work sessions was energizing. The stories that were shared and the support that was given as a group was so helpful. Thank you Jordan and Phill your vision is truly a game changer, and to the families behind these two men thank you for supporting a vision that will help so many others over the years to come.- Adams County Fire Captain
"I believe that Revital is ahead of the curb in treating mental health. There is a growing body of research showing being out in nature and participating in a relaxing activity is just as if not more effective than pharmaceuticals. It could be a great alternative or combination for treatment. I sometimes forget how lucky we are to have a beautiful outdoor playground right in our backyard here in Colorado. Floating on the raft, improving my cast technique, feeling the rush when you get a hit on your fly, watching eagles fly over us, all the while pausing to take in your surroundings is a form of therapy in itself. " -Adams County Firefighter Jason Kalahar
I enjoyed the ability to get away from the noise and everyday stresses of life and EMS. Being able to connect with nature and connect with other individuals that share my experiences. Guest speakers were by far my favorite part of the trip. Being inspired by their determination and drive to overcome adversity. Making friendships that I hope will last forever. St. Louis Firefighter
"I hesitate to use a buzz word like “revolutionary” but that is exactly what comes to mind when I think of the work Revital is doing. Going fly fishing with someone who understood the stresses of the job was an incredible experience. I was able to learn a new hobby, breathe fresh mountain air, and take time to truly feel relaxed. I can’t recommend it enough and would encourage everyone on the job to take advantage of this amazing resource." -Adams County Sheriffs Officer Joshua Steenburgh
“It’s hard to put into words what these outings mean. Being outdoors and in nature has done so much for my health an wellbeing outside of the fire department. Fly fishing has been a way for me to decompress and appreciate life again. Revital is giving men and woman first responders opportunities to find positive ways to deal with the stress of the job and life. I am truly appreciative of what a they are doing!!” -Thornton Firefighter Brandon Harrington
It is always great to get outdoors and do what I have a passion for, fly fishing, it’s even better to do it in such a great setting with good-hearted people. I had little experience on a horse, so being able to ride so deep into the wilderness was an experience I will never forget. But, the most valuable part of the trip for me was being there with a group of people willing to be open and honest with each other. Sharing the entire experience, being vulnerable with each other, and overcoming our fears together has created a lasting bond for the entire group. When I came home and had dinner with my wife, she mentioned how present I seemed, which is the entire point of the trip. - Adams County Fire Chief Stuart Sunderland
“I had just gotten off a very busy shift and i found that I was immediately put into relaxation and comfort mode by attending the outing today. This will help the transition from work to home life which is where I struggle a lot” -ACFR FF/Paramedic Rob Haberer
The hosts for this trip were amazing. Very personable, friendly and took the time to explain things especially for the beginners. The hosts made me feel comfortable and gave opportunities for us to connect for both myself and my wife. We would definitely go on another trip with the host. Thanks — ACFR Firefighter Michael Trunkenbolz
Had the absolute pleasure of spending the day with four amazing people and people I respect immensely. Thank you Jordan and Revital for an amazing outing. I can’t wait to do it again. — ACFR Training Captain Eric Davis
“Had a fabulous time today and intend to do more activities through Revital. Jordan has always been very personable and has a knack for putting people at ease” -ACFPD L.T. Joe Nichol
“I went into this not knowing what to expect and not being a good golfer. The other two guys and Jordan were great and even helped me with some coaching. I would absolutely recommend doing this and I have already scheduled my next outing with Revital. “ — ACFR Firefighter/Paramedic Steve Legault
“Today was an absolute blast with my brothers. Much needed in these times. Revital has a great program going.” — ACFR Firefighter Mike Eason
“What a great time I had on my day trip! It was great to be with buddies outside of work and Jordan treated us like we were VIP all day” — ACFR Firefighter Nick Loper
“Great day on the water. Glad I was able to get more insight on what Revital is all about. I think this organization will be a huge benefit for those looking to take a break from work to decompress and just hangout with some welcoming individuals. I think having the family component in it as well is very beneficial. I look forward to seeing this organization take off. Great conversation, great food and just overall a great experience. I’m excited for the next individuals who get to experience this.” -Boulder Firefighter Corey Carter
My outing with Revital was transformative, and mostly because it didn’t try to be. I didn’t know I needed this type of experience until after it was over and realized all the effort, time and work that had been put in to just simply provide me a day of relaxation. The largest take away I had from my Revital outing was a massive increase in self-worth; if a group of (up to that point) strangers were willing to put that much effort towards my well being, then I should prioritize that for myself as well. I kept waiting for “the catch”, half expecting that Revital was too good to be true, but that moment never came. We just had a relaxing day catching fish with some new friends, no strings attached. I hope more of my coworkers get to experience Revital, we all undoubtedly need it. -Adams County Sheriffs Officer Michael Lapham
Revital is going to be the top organization for helping our local hero’s! Sometimes you just need to get out and remember what life outside of our career is all about! — ACFR Firefighter Mark Livingston
“We were very fortunate to spend the day with the Revital family. Rick and Shelly were AMAZING!!!! Both of them were attentive and wanted to share the day with us. They had a day planned out that kept a great pace filled with fun and great conversations. Whatever we are dealing with in life, getting out with hosts like Rick and Shelly, remind us, that it's all temporary and life can be jumpstarted by doing a Revital trip. I realized that I needed to get away more than I thought. Thank you REVITAL. — ACFR Firefighter Mark and Christina Livingston
The events that Revital has put on have been wonderful. It continues to be a good mixture on events allowing for multiple people to participate. Everyone I've participated in has helped me decompress and feel refreshed I highly recommend it.
“Great day today, a good way to help families connect.” — ACFR Firefighter Brandon Donner
“The experience means so much as a wife and mom. I truly appreciate my kids getting to spend time with other kids that have families in the fire service so they can connect and relate together. We had an incredible experience.” - ACFR Firefighter Wife
The fly fishing outing gave me a chance to learn a new hobby. Something I would not normally seek on my own. Being away from the city and cell service allows you to decompress and enjoy your time outdoors. The conversations that occur throughout the outing allow you to open up without pressure. I look forward to more outings with Revital in the future. -ACFR Firefighter Tyler Criswell
Testimonials “I was fortunate enough to be a part of this outing! Had a great time with some good friends, and this was a great way to decompress after my shift!! This course is amazing and Jordan and his team did an awesome job putting this all together for us! Thank you Revital for hosting events like this!!” — ACFR Firefighter Alex Petty
“Spent an awesome day with great friends and for a good reason. Revital has a novel concept to address responder health and wellness. Thanks” — ACFR Captain Russell Hosmer