BackCountry Heroes, which was founded on the belief that nature has the power to heal, uses hunting, camping and other outdoor activities to help veterans and first responders reconnect with themselves, their community and their families.
The Ramona-based program was established in August 2024 by Kaleb Weakley, a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, his wife, Sydney, and conservation biologist Brian Horne.
The name BackCountry Heroes came from an idea Weakley’s 10-year-old daughter, Scarlet, had while they were eating pizza at a Julian restaurant.
“We were discussing the nonprofit and trying to come up with a name (and) Scarlet said, ‘Dad, you guys are heroes and you hunt in the backcountry,’ so we wrote out ‘BackCountry Heroes,’” he said.
Weakley, who served in the Marine Corps for six years, was seriously injured in 2012 while serving in Afghanistan. He was shot by a Taliban sniper, sustaining a gunshot wound to his left leg that shattered his femur and another to his right arm that caused severe trauma to his bicep. He also had a broken right ankle.
An avid hunter and outdoorsman since the age of 5, Weakley feared he would never return to his normal outdoor lifestyle. During his recovery at Balboa Naval Hospital, he was encouraged by the hospital’s recreational therapy head, his physical therapist and the late Ron Raboud, founder of Wounded Warrior Outdoors, to go on a black bear hunt in British Columbia.
“They basically forced me to go,” Weakley recalled. “They strapped me into my wheelchair with ratchet straps and built a platform where my wheelchair was ratcheted down so I could shoot from the bed of the pickup.
“The hunt was a success and I harvested a 357-pound chocolate-phase black bear,” he said.
This experience, combined with time spent out in nature, gave Weakley the driving force for his recovery, he said.
After the trip, Weakley felt inspired to help others facing similar challenges. He worked six years for a Ramona-based nonprofit, Special Liberty Project, which took veterans on outdoor recreational trips.
When the organization relocated to North Carolina, Weakley decided to start his own outdoor nonprofit to serve veterans and first responders. He said he was urged on by his wife and mentor Tim Brown, a longtime friend who introduced him to hunting in California.
“I saw a need to include our first responders after COVID,” he said. “I wanted to include them because I didn’t see a lot of love and support for them, and they are just as important to our community as our veterans.”
BackCountry Heroes focuses on a variety of outdoor adventures that include hunting, fishing, hiking, horseback riding and camping. Some of the trips are designed for all family members.
Gen Murofushi, a hunting guide and board member for BackCountry Heroes, is a detective with the Chula Vista Police Department and has been hunting in San Diego County since 1992.
“BackCountry Heroes fills the gaps by reconnecting veterans and first responders with their families as they move through the healing process,” Murofushi said.
Many of the hunting trips have limited availability, so drawings are held to ensure everyone has a fair chance at securing a spot. Some trips are designed exclusively for veterans or first responders, while others bring both groups together.
BackCountry Heroes in Ramona took four combat-wounded veterans and their families on a trip to Catalina Island in the summer of 2025. The trip was filled with outdoor adventures and nightly campfire stories. (Courtesy Kaleb Weakley)
BackCountry Heroes also offers a Catalina Family Trip that takes place every summer. Interested families can apply for the trip.
“There are four tents with 15 beds in each tent,” Weakley said. “We divide the tents in half to ensure privacy and use the interview process to match compatible families.”
Families stay at the Blackjack Campground and have five days of glamping while participating in activities such as golf cart tours around the island, parasailing, a submarine tour, zip lining, horseback riding, hiking, snorkeling, paddleboarding and sharing stories around the campfire at night.
Darryl Charles, a former U.S. Marine with his wife, Desiree, and son Kingsley on the BackCountry Heroes Catalina Trip in summer 2025. (Courtesy Desiree Charles)
The Charles family — Darryl, Desiree, and their son, Kingsley, 8 — were among the families at last summer’s Catalina trip.
Darryl Charles is a former Marine who had his right leg above the knee amputated.
“Being able to reconnect with old friends, meet new friends and connect with other families at these events brings a sense of community back to us,” he said.
Charles was in Afghanistan doing a sweep of an area for IEDs when he stepped on a low metallic pressure plate, his wife said.
“Unfortunately, evacuation took longer than expected and they were not able to save his knee so they had to amputate above knee,” Desiree Charles said. “He sustained multiple other injuries as well and recovery will forever be ongoing.”
The BackCountry Heroes program has been a big part of that recovery, she said.
“The trip gives families a chance to disconnect from electronics, enjoy the outdoors, and share stories — allowing them to truly reconnect with one another,” she said.
Darryl Charles first met Kaleb Weakley during their recovery time at Balboa Naval Hospital, and the two have remained friends ever since. The Charles family, who live in Fallbrook, also participated in a horseback riding event provided by the North Arabians of Ramona on Sutherland Dam Road.
“We all want to go on a turkey hunt next,” Desiree Charles said.
In January 2025, BackCountry Heroes organized a pheasant hunt in Imperial Valley for selected members. Back Row – Alex (dog handler); “Doc” Dave Perry, US Navy Corpsman; Dave Newcomb, US Navy/Active fire captain; Gary Patterson, USMC; Joseph De’Angelo, USMC/active fire captain. Front row, from left: Brian Horne, Upland Guide, dog handler and BCH board member/co-Founder; Jeff Knox, USMC; Rebecca Portugal, USMC; and Jordan Marasso, US Army/Active Firefighter. The 2026 Pheasant Hunt is scheduled for Jan. 16-18. (Courtesy Kaleb Weakley)
All the trips offered by BackCountry Heroes are fully funded by the organization. Families and participants are responsible only for transportation to the adventure locations and for obtaining any required hunting or fishing licenses.
The organization is funded through private donations and community grants. Recently, it received a $3,000 grant from the Ramona Rodeo Foundation, along with support from the National Wild Turkey Federation’s San Diego Chapter.
The organization also focuses on giving back through conservation efforts. Two to three times a year, members volunteer their time to help with land cleanup and habitat restoration on six private properties in Julian that are used for hunting.
“These projects create purpose and drive and give the members a mission to help improve the environment that in return provides a foundation for healing,” Weakley said.
Veterans and first responders interested in becoming members of the nonprofit can sign up on the group’s website at https://www.backcountryheroes.org/. Once an application is submitted, Weakley reaches out to each applicant, and they are added to an email list that keeps members informed about upcoming trips and events.
The organization also welcomes volunteers who want to help at events. Volunteers assist with safety, setup and supporting participants, ensuring that every adventure runs smoothly. Those interested in volunteering can also sign up through the website.
The 2026 calendar of events for BackCountry Heroes is a busy one. The year begins with a whitetail hunt in Barbour County, Alabama, and a winter pheasant hunt in the Imperial Valley. While both events are already full, BackCountry Heroes will be offering a Hunter Safety course open to the general public on Jan. 24 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Ramona Town Hall. Interested participants can email info@backcountryheroes.org for more information.
As BackCountry Heroes continues to grow, one of Weakley’s goals is to host a large fundraising event where members, families and the Ramona community can come together to support the cause. To learn more about upcoming events, follow the organization’s Instagram and Facebook pages @backcountryheroes.
“As a wife and caregiver to a veteran, having support and opportunities through BackCountry Heroes has brought so much joy and experiences for our family as a whole,” Desiree Charles said. “I could not be more appreciative of everything they do.”