Celebrating The Fieldhouse’s First Year of Operation Article

Celebrating The Fieldhouse’s First Year of Operation

The Idaho Outdoor Fieldhouse recently celebrated its first anniversary, marking one year of transformative recreation, collaboration, and community building for Idaho veterans and athletes with physical disabilities.

Designed as the headquarters for Mission43 and Challenged Athletes Foundation – Idaho, the state-of-the-art Fieldhouse offers elite fitness and training opportunities, leadership development, and inclusive events and clinics that help veterans and adaptive athletes reach their fullest potential.

For many, including Paige Brown, a former Navy officer, the Fieldhouse has provided a much-needed sense of belonging and purpose.

Following a successful career as a Surface Warfare Officer, Paige began working in real estate and eventually moved back to her hometown of Boise, where she became involved with Mission43. When the Fieldhouse opened, Paige and her husband were eager to see what it had to offer.

Paige and her husband started by attending occasional workouts, which eventually led to them joining the first FORGED cohort group. They’ve participated in pool and strength training workouts, and are currently in a cohort for Nordic skiing. They have also attended several coffee hours where members get to meet and connect with one another. 

“The sense of camaraderie among military members—active duty, reserve, retired, and veterans—has been incredible. I love that there is no difference in rank during workouts at the Fieldhouse. Everyone supports one another, cheering each other on and pushing for personal bests without any judgment,” Brown said.

In its first year, the Idaho Outdoor Fieldhouse has more than lived up to the hype. Veterans have found solace and purpose through physical and recreation opportunities, while adaptive athletes have pushed their limits and achieved groundbreaking milestones that defy their physical disabilities.

“Right now we have about 350 members between Mission43 and CAF utilizing the Fieldhouse, and we hope that will continue to grow. And this doesn’t even include the hundreds of military members and athletes we’ve hosted for special events,” said Julia Fishman, Director of Operations for the Idaho Outdoor Fieldhouse.“

Roger Quarles, Executive Director for the J.A. & Kathryn Albertson Family Foundation, has loved seeing the Foundation’s vision for the Fieldhouse come to life.

“We wanted to build a top notch facility that could offer adaptive athletes, veterans and their families a second home and a place where they could push their physical limits while having every resource available to them,” commented Quarles.

Paige and her husband plan to continue taking advantage of all of the offerings at the Idaho Outdoor Fieldhouse, and encourage other veterans to do the same.

“We’ve formed meaningful connections and a tight-knit community here at the Fieldhouse,” said Brown. “And the relationships we’ve fostered go well beyond the building. Reconnecting with this community has been amazing, as there is truly no connection like that of fellow service members,” added Brown.

As the Fieldhouse continues to grow and evolve, it remains committed to its mission of inspiring hope, fostering resilience, and celebrating the extraordinary abilities of its members.

“Idaho is already on the map as a first class destination for recreation, said Quarles. “Now with the Fieldhouse, we’re putting ourselves on the map as the best place to live life after the military.”

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