Mountain Seed Foundation

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Centreville, VA
Mountain Seed Foundation

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As a 501c(3), Mountain Seed Foundation is a direct response to the growing number of families affected by war and conflicts in their home countries.

Our programs support mental health and move our participants from survival to thriving.

10/28/2026

Our Mini Base Camp program brings healing to families in Ukraine through parallel programming for children and mothers.

Children take part in climbing sessions that build strength, trust, and confidence while fostering community and resilience in a safe, supportive environment. At the same time, mothers join research-based art sessions that offer space to process their experiences, connect with one another, and learn practical stress-reduction techniques for daily life.

Families in Ukraine carry so much every day, and these moments of connection help them carry it together. You can help us bring these moments to more families at mountainseedfoundation.org/donate-today.

10/26/2026

“I feel selfish. I’m taking so much away.”

We hear this from our international veteran mentors all the time. They come to Healing Base Camp to help participant families, and they leave having grown in their own healing. By giving back, they push through more of their own challenges and leave feeling better than when they arrived.

Healing flows both ways, and this reciprocity is central to our model. The relationships formed on the mountain strengthen everyone involved.

Learn more about our work and support healing that grows in all directions at mountainseedfoundation.org.

10/20/2026

We’re so grateful to Natalie Berry for spending time with the families of our Mini Base Camp program in Lviv and telling their stories with such heart and care.

Her article goes behind the scenes of Mini Base Camp, sharing how the program works and why healing together as a family makes such a difference for those affected by war. The result is families leaving a little lighter, a little stronger, and more connected to one another.

The article is a finalist in the Banff Mountain Book Competition, and we’re thrilled to see Natalie’s work recognized in this way. We hope you’ll take a few minutes to read the full story here:
https://digitalcommons.dartmouth.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2191&context=appalachia

10/18/2026

What if the mountain isn’t as steep as it looks?

Researchers found that people standing next to a friend saw the same hill as less steep than people standing alone. The closer the friendship, the gentler the slope looked. Even just thinking of a friend or supportive partner made the climb seem easier.

At Healing Base Camp, families build the connections that help them approach life’s challenges with renewed resilience and hope. Relationships are one part of PERMA+, the model we build our programs around, and when participants face a challenge alongside their peers or their families, they discover strength they didn’t know they had.

The challenge stays the same, the people beside us change what feels possible.

Learn more about our approach and the research that backs our programs:
https://mountainseedfoundation.org/our-approach

10/16/2026

From 7 families to more than 650 in just five years.

2022: 1 camp in Austria, 7 families
2023: 2 camps, 30 families
2024: Austria and Slovenia, 45 families
2025: Austria, Cyprus, and 16 camps in Ukraine, ~280 families
2026: Austria and 38 camps in Ukraine, 650+ families by the end of the year

We're so grateful for how far we've come, and even more excited about where we're going. There are so many families still waiting for a space to heal, and we want to reach every one we can. If you'd like to help us grow even further, you can learn more at mountainseedfoundation.org.

10/14/2026

Nothing about Healing Base Camp is accidental.

Every climb, meeting, and activity is shaped by PERMA+, Dr. Martin Seligman’s model of well-being: Positive emotions, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Achievement, plus physical activity, quality sleep, and good nutrition.

Each element is part of building a life worth living, and we weave them into every day of our programs. Families leave with simple ways to carry each piece into life at home.

P: Positive Emotions, creating space to feel and share joy freely
E: Engagement, staying fully present with every step and handhold
R: Relationships, strengthening bonds among peers and within each family
M: Meaning & Purpose, rediscovering unique gifts and how to share them
A: Achievement, building confidence on the mountain and in group sessions
+: Physical activity, quality sleep, and good nutrition woven into daily life

Scroll through to learn more about each element, and visit mountainseedfoundation.org to subscribe or help more families Climb to Heal.

10/10/2026

"Healing is not a single moment, it is a journey."

This World Mental Health Day, we are recognizing the families who choose to take that difficult first step and walk this journey together.

Our programs exist to provide mental health support to families carrying the weight of war. Surviving the war is not the end; it is the beginning of a new chapter. We help families go from existing in gray to flourishing and experiencing life in color again.

Learn more about our programs: mountainseedfoundation.org

10/07/2026

When one family member is wounded, the whole family carries it.

So many families are navigating life after trauma, amputation, and invisible injuries, alongside the everyday stress that comes with living through war. Our programs exist to provide an outlet, a community, tools, and experiences that reignite their capacity to flourish rather than simply survive.

What our participants describe, again and again, is a reset: a shift in perspective that makes room for hope and a renewed vision for the future, both as individuals and as a family unit.

Learn more about our work at mountainseedfoundation.org.

Note: The cross pictured is a traditional summit cross common throughout the Austrian Alps. Mountain Seed Foundation is not a religious organization.

10/05/2026

"Can we continue sessions with you after we go home?"

It's a question our therapists frequently hear before Healing Base Camp has even ended, and it reflects one of the most valuable outcomes of the program.

During camp, participants spend the week with our Ukrainian therapists through time in nature, climbing, and positive psychology-based group modules. That shared experience builds genuine rapport, which makes the step into ongoing therapy feel natural instead of intimidating.

After camp, every participant is offered up to 10 therapy sessions at no cost. Some pursue individual work, while others choose couples' sessions. Our therapy team tailors each plan to the participant's needs as they continue building resilience and navigating their challenges.

This continuum of care is made possible entirely by our donors and supporters. You can support continuing therapy for families at mountainseedfoundation.org.

Address

14737 Pickets Post Road
Centreville, VA
20121

Telephone

+17578132039

Website

http://www.mountainseedfoundation.org/

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