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Our Impact and results

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RESEARCH

 
In 2024, a group of educators and researchers from Old Dominion University (ODU) attended two of our camps in Austria and conducted the first research study regarding the efficacy of our program.  
This important study was recently published in the Journal of Human Services (See full article here.)
 
“This study explores the impact of a retreat-style intervention on the well-being and resilience of Ukrainian military families, focusing on military spouses. The intervention, Healing Base Camp facilitated by the Mountain Seed Foundation, fostered personal growth and post-traumatic recovery through positive psychology, peer support, and experiential activities such as mountain climbing. Using a qualitative descriptive design, the study examines the experiences of 26 Ukrainian military spouses (all females) who participated in the program. Findings reveal improvements in self-efficacy, emotional well-being, and family dynamics, with participants reporting increased confidence, strengthened family relationships, and renewed hope. These results emphasize the role of community-based interventions in promoting resilience in conflict-affected populations and offer insights into the potential for scalable programs to support mental health and recovery in military families.”
 
Kivikoski, J., Ollila, B., Dice, T., Rehfuss, M., & Haegele, J. (2025). Transforming Trauma:

The Role of Positive Psychology Interventions for Ukrainian Military Spouses. Journal of
Human Services, 44(1), 107–125. https://doi.org/10.52678/001c.143803

“The powerful results described in the discussion and implication section are a testament to our innovative program and the extraordinary dedication, tenacity and hard work of our staff, volunteers, board members and mountaineering teams.” – Dr. Amit Oren, MSF Clinical Director

THE MOUNTAIN SEED APPROACH

MSF Program Page

Our program is an evidence-based, family-focused approach founded on the principles of positive psychology’s PERMA + model. Using psychoeducational modules and nature-based activities, participants are empowered to cultivate their strengths, resilience, positive emotions, relationships and a sense of purpose in order to overcome the devastating effects of war.

Through guided mountaineering expeditions and group-based interventions, we aim to restore what war has stolen and enable these courageous individuals to grant themselves the permission to flourish.

“WE SIMPLY TURN ON A FLASHLIGHT AND ILLUMINATE AND CULTIVATE THE STRENGTHS AND VALUES WE KNOW EACH PARTICIPANT ALREADY HAS.”

– AMIT G. OREN, PHD