On Wednesday, April 22, The Highground welcomed a full house for its first CAMO (Community and Military Outreach) workshop of 2026. Participants traveled from as far as Wausau to take part in the evening’s featured activity: crafting beaded chicken wire suncatchers.
The workshop opened with a sense of anticipation as attendees envisioned their final creations. As the crafting progressed, the room shifted between laughter, determination and the occasional moment of frustration—especially when Pinterest-perfect expectations met real-world crafting challenges. By the end of the evening, those challenges were overcome and transformed into pride as each participant completed a unique suncatcher, varying in size, color and design. Many left eager to display their finished pieces at home.
Workshop facilitator Bonnie Pettis shared with the group that projects like this often bring out both the best and the most human moments in all of us. She emphasized how hands-on creative work helps veterans and civilians alike quiet persistent thoughts, build resilience and practice patience with themselves and others.
“I believe all 28 crafters truly enjoyed their evening out,” shared Pettis. “Hearing individual stories—especially from those who shared that simply making it out for the evening was more challenging than the project itself—made the night incredibly meaningful.”
The Highground is able to offer CAMO workshops at no cost to the public thanks to grants from the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) and the MDRT Foundation.
The next CAMO event, “Wellness Through CAMO,” will take place on Saturday, May 30, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at The Highground. This special event will offer a full day dedicated to supporting veterans, their families and community members through wellness education, hands-on services and meaningful connections.
For information about The Highground, its mission and more, visit The Highground website or follow them on Facebook at Facebook.com/TheHighgroundVeteransMemorial.
The Highground is located at W7031 Ridge Rd, Neillsville.