This story was featured in the August-September 2025 issue of the Heartbeat newsletter.
Drs. Chris and Carol Bakke have built a life they love in rural Crawford County — and a place where veterans can reconnect, heal, and find support. On their 20-acre property, they host outdoor retreats, help fellow service members navigate the VA benefits system, and create a space where military friendships can flourish long after active duty ends.
Their nonprofit, Outside the Wire Veterans Foundation, provides both practical and therapeutic support. The Bakkes, who both teach at Pittsburg State University, assist veterans and their families with education, disability, and pension claims, and offer nature-based therapy through camping, fishing, outdoor cooking, and more.
The inspiration came in part from Carol’s own experience coming home from Iraq. She returned in late 2011 and was attending college by January — with no time to transition.
Over the years, the loss of friends to suicide made the need for connection painfully clear.
“The last one from my unit was in June of last year,” Carol says. “He was one of the guys who was under me. I was his leadership and we were really close. He went through mental health issues, addiction, homelessness… and eventually he just couldn’t take it.”
When her former unit was looking for a place to gather, the Bakkes offered their land. They stocked the pond, built trails and bridges, and set up military-friendly spaces for camping and cooking. Veterans who attended found the setting therapeutic, and the couple knew they were onto something.
The Bakkes didn’t always live in the country. After some time in Minneapolis, Carol pushed for a move that would give them space and quiet closer to where she grew up in southeast Kansas.
They started on five acres in Weir before settling into their current 20-acre home — a blank canvas they could shape into their vision. What they call Bakke Woodland Acres now serves both as their family retreat and as a hub for veteran reunions.
“We have a pond that’s stocked, walking trails, bridges over the creeks, a shooting range, camping areas,” Chris says. “That’s kind of our therapy for each other that we like to include our brothers and sisters that we served with.”
Reunion weekends are designed to be easygoing. Veterans can grill, fish, take a nap in their tents, or sit by the fire sharing stories.
“It’s therapy without saying, ‘Tell me about your feelings,’” Chris explains. “It just naturally comes out.”
The activities are familiar for those who served.
“As a service member and as a veteran, you spend a lot of time outside,” Chris says. “For many, this feels familiar — but in a more peaceful setting.”
When they moved to southeast Kansas, the Bakkes realized some services common in other areas were missing. Rather than relocate, they decided to use their skills and experience to fill those gaps.
“Instead of picking up and leaving, how about we try to do what we know how to do?” Chris says.
That philosophy has shaped their foundation’s approach: empower veterans instead and provide connection along with resources.
“We are here in the southeast Kansas area for veterans and their families,” Chris says. “If we can’t provide it for you, we’ll point you in the right direction. You’re not alone.”
Carol adds, “We’re very approachable. We’re kid-friendly. We’re pet-friendly.”
Looking ahead, their dream is to make Bakke Woodland Acres the permanent home of the nonprofit.
“It’s the perfect place with the hunting, the fishing, the camping,” Carol says. “Eventually, we’d like to sell this property to the foundation, so it’s here for veterans long after us.”
For more information on Outside the Wire, visit www.outsidethewire.org.