Iraq veteran hopes nature can help younger vets connect

When Ben Haberthur returned from Iraq in 2003, he found solace and recovery in 10-hour hikes along California’s coasts, often with fellow veterans.

Now a restoration ecologist with the Forest Preserve District of Kane County, Haberthur is determined to offer that same cathartic experience to Chicagoland’s veterans.

Earlier this year, Haberthur secured a $10,000 grant from the National Audubon Society and Toyota to establish a Veterans Conservation Corps, which he hopes will provide a way for younger veterans to connect in nature.

Read more about Haberthur’s efforts to reach out to younger veterans in the Chicago Tribune.