RTBMO Basecamp Build Week: Strength, Service, and Brotherhood in Action

From March 28 to April 6, 2025, the RTBMO Team and Volunteers came together for one of our most productive and challenging “Build Weeks” yet. Our Veterans and supporters proved once again teamwork and determination can overcome anything.

On March 28, volunteers and board members kicked off the week with high energy and great teamwork. By March 31, 17 motivated RTBMO volunteers were hard at work across six separate construction activities, capped off with a hearty homemade meal of beef stew and cornbread from our Advisory Board Member, Christine O’Connell Trotter.

The pace didn’t slow down. On April 2, teams transported and assembled the second wheelchair-accessible deer stand, built along a brand-new, all-terrain trail climbing over 250 feet. This remarkable addition will give Veterans using all-terrain wheelchairs a new way to enjoy hunting and the outdoors. A huge “thank you” goes to Friend Lumber in Licking, MO, and Kent, for delivering all our building materials, making this project possible.

Then came the true test of resilience. On April 4, RTBMO Board Members Denis Wm Lenger, Andy Stodgel, and Bruce Delawder pressed on despite unpredictable weather—finishing work on the Deer Stand and the wheelchair-accessible bathroom before powerful winds, hail, and flash flooding hit. Thanks to quick thinking, teamwork, and steady communication via Starlink, everyone made it safely back to the Little Red Cabin in Roby, MO, and secured all camp assets.

This Build Week was more than just progress—it was a testament to Veteran grit, brotherhood, and purpose. Each challenge faced brought us closer to our goal: a Basecamp offering Veterans and their families safe, comfortable, and unforgettable outdoor experiences.Support the next phase of the RTBMO Basecamp by donating at www.RTBMO.org/donate.