Our Mission
Wayfinder Expeditions is a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to the mental and emotional restoration of veterans through high-standard maritime expeditions. Operating as a disciplined small-unit crew, we utilize the rigors of offshore sailing to mirror the camaraderie and accountability of military service. By successfully navigating the complexities of the open sea, our veterans move from the isolation of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) to the shared accomplishment of the mission, reclaiming their identity, their resilience, and their bearing for the journey home.
Our Founder
Wayfinder Expeditions was founded by Eric Shelvy, a U.S. Marine Corps combat veteran, former federal law enforcement officer, lifelong sailor, and passionate advocate for veterans seeking a new path forward after military service. Throughout his career—from leading Marines during the Battle of Fallujah to serving overseas as a federal agent and later sailing thousands of miles across the Pacific Ocean with his family, one lesson remained constant: the greatest challenges in life are often overcome through purpose, resilience, and the people beside you.
Like many veterans, Eric understands that the transition home can be one of life’s most difficult battles. The discipline, teamwork, and sense of mission developed during military service do not simply disappear when the uniform comes off, and finding a new purpose can be difficult. Through years spent living and sailing offshore, he discovered that the sea offers something unique, a place where distractions fade, confidence is rebuilt through meaningful challenges, and people reconnect with themselves while working together toward a common goal.
That experience became the foundation for Project Wayfinder. More than a sailing program, Wayfinder Expeditions is a mission to help disabled veterans rediscover purpose through adventure therapy and offshore sailing. Every expedition is designed to build resilience, foster trust, strengthen leadership, and create lasting bonds among veterans who understand one another’s experiences. Participants are not passengers, they are valued members of the crew, learning, contributing, and growing together as they navigate both the ocean and the challenges that lie beyond it.
Wayfinder Expeditions reflects Eric’s belief that healing is not about forgetting the past, it’s about finding a new course forward. By combining the demands of offshore sailing with camaraderie, responsibility, and shared accomplishment, the organization strives to give veterans an opportunity to regain confidence, reconnect with purpose, and realize that they never have to navigate life’s journey alone.
Check out some content from our founder Eric Shelvy as he sits down one one with Asher Schuler of The Vanguard Wall Podcast and YouTube Channel he created sailing half-way around the world with his kids at sea for three and half years.
Cpl. Eric Shelvy, November 22, 2004.
Eric Shelvy, South Pacific Ocean 2025
Part 1 & 2 of a one on one interview with the Eric Shelvy.
Three and a half years at sea with kids aboard, Sailing Vessel Altair.
Cpl. Eric Shelvy, Fallujah, November 2004
What's the Op Plan?
Wayfinder Expeditions fulfills its mission through a series of continuous offshore sailing expeditions up and down Atlantic Coast of the United States. Each expedition spans three to five days and places a small team of veterans aboard a professionally operated sailing vessel where every participant serves as an active member of the crew. Crew can expect a day of travel on each end and a day of preparation, safety briefs, and vessel operations.
Expeditions follow a seasonal route that progresses along the East Coast in response to favorable weather patterns and the North American hurricane season. Typical ports of call may include Fernandina Beach, St. Augustine, Charleston, Beaufort, Wilmington, Oriental, Norfolk, Annapolis, Cape May, New York Harbor, Newport, and other established cruising destinations.
Routes, schedules, and destinations remain mission-driven and are adjusted as necessary based on weather, sea conditions, vessel readiness, and operational requirements, reflecting the adaptability expected in military operations.
The lessons learned at sea don't stay at sea. Wayfinder is designed so that what veterans practice offshore — clear-eyed leadership under pressure, accountability to a team, and confidence in their own judgment — travels home with them and back into their communities:
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Leadership — Participants see firsthand what it means to lead calmly through uncertainty, and they're given real responsibility aboard the Vessel to practice it themselves.
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Teamwork — Life at sea requires a crew that trusts each other completely. Participants relearn how to build that trust with others — and to rely on people again.
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Sense of Self — Meeting real physical and mental challenges offshore reminds participants of a truth they may have lost sight of: they are still capable of doing hard things.
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Responsibility — Every role aboard matters to the safety of the whole crew. Participants leave with a renewed sense that their actions — and their steadiness — matter to the people around them.
What's the Take Away?
What is Adventure Therapy?
Adventure therapy is an evidence informed approach that uses structured, challenging outdoor experiences to promote personal growth, resilience, and psychological well-being. Within Wayfinder Expeditions, offshore sailing provides a unique environment where veterans develop confidence, teamwork, leadership, problem-solving skills, and emotional resilience while working together to safely navigate real-world challenges. The demands of life at sea foster trust, accountability, and self-efficacy, creating opportunities for participants to reconnect with purpose, strengthen peer relationships, and build practical coping skills that can be carried into everyday life.
Adventure Therapy
