Our
Story
Get to Know Us
Pathways for Veterans was created from a simple belief: every veteran deserves a place where their experiences are honored and their next chapter is supported with genuine care. We recognize that life after service can bring new challenges, and no one should have to navigate them alone. What began as a vision to offer guidance and healing has grown into a welcoming community where veterans can regain balance, rediscover confidence, and move forward with purpose. Our story is shaped by the strength of those we serve, and our commitment is to stand with veterans as they find clarity, resilience, and a renewed sense of direction.
N E W S
At Pathways for Veterans, we understand that coming home is only the beginning of another journey. Our purpose is to offer veterans a space where they feel respected, supported, and deeply understood. Through compassionate guidance and restorative programs, we help veterans find steadiness, reconnect with their inner strength, and build a future that feels meaningful and whole. Pathways is more than a program — it’s a community that walks beside every veteran with care, commitment, and hope.
A B O U T Polka Creek Ranch
Polka Creek Ranch in Weaverville, California offers veterans a peaceful retreat surrounded by the quiet strength of nature. Nestled in the Trinity Mountains, the ranch provides a place to step away from daily pressures, reconnect with the land, and experience calm, clarity, and community. Whether gathering around a fire, walking along the creek, or simply taking time to breathe, veterans are invited to rest, reflect, and recharge in a setting that honors their service and supports their healing.
About our founder
Gary Ferguson
Pathways for Veterans was founded by Gary Ferguson, a Vietnam combat veteran who turned his own journey through trauma, addiction, and recovery into a mission of healing and empowerment for others. What began as one man’s promise to help veterans rediscover meaning in civilian life has become a community dedicated to growth, leadership, and purpose. Our programs were built around a simple belief: Every veteran carries the potential to transform pain into power, confusion into clarity, and service into lifelong purpose.
Services
Our platform offers veterans a complete support system with flexible online courses, restorative retreats, and practical resources designed to build skills, strengthen well being, and support success in every stage of life.
Online Courses
Our veteran online courses offer flexible, streamlined training to help service members and veterans build skills and advance their goals.
Retreats
Our retreats offer a focused, restorative environment where veterans can reconnect, build resilience, and gain practical tools for personal growth and well-being.
Recourses
Our resources deliver practical, easy-to-use tools and guidance that empower veterans to navigate challenges, build skills, and improve their overall quality of life.
