Smithfield Farms - Horse Camps on Cape
The first is a camp funded by Operation Military Kids, for children between the ages of 10-13, which will run from July 15-19th at Smithfield Farms in Falmouth. This camp is specifically geared toward youth currently experiencing the deployment of an immediate family member, but will accept active duty military youth on a wait list. See calendar for more information.
The second opportunity is for youth ages 8-14 with an active duty parent in the Air National Guard, and will run from August 5-9th at the same location. That flyer is also attached, and is funded through the 4-HAir Force Partnership grant at Kansas State University in partnership with UMASS Extension. See calendar for more information.
Operation Purple Camps
The 2013 Operation Purple Camp list is up and you can apply now for summer spots. To locate camps and check eligibility view the Operation Purple camps page at: http://www.militaryfamily.org/our-programs/ operation-purple/traditional-camps/ . Operation Purple camps are open to military children from all service branches including National Guard and Reserve, Coast Guard, National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, and the Commissioned Corps of the United States Public Health Services. However, priority is given to those children who have or will have a parent or guardian deployed during a 15 month deployment widow” (specific dates announced each year); this includes pre-, during and post-deployment phases. If all spaces are not filled with campers who meet the deployment criteria, the remaining camp slots are filled with any DEERS-eligible military child. Children of retired military personnel are eligible if the service member was deployed at any time during the current deployment “window” before retirement. Check out the FAQ page for answers you may need. If you need any questions answered that aren’t listed, please contact the Child and Youth Program Office at 1-888-301-3103 X7290 or X7952.
2013 Office of Family Policy Camp Programs
The Office of Family Policy is pleased to once again offer a number of exciting camp opportunities for military youth in 2013. These camps are offered through the DoD's partnership with the USDA-NIFA-4-H, the Land Grant Universities' Cooperative Extension System. Each year, thousands of military youth between the ages of 6 and 18 participate in a variety of day, residential and adventure camps through this partnership. Through evaluation conducted by Virginia Tech and Purdue Universities, we know that these camps have a positive impact on the attendees. These camp programs focus on resiliency, creating a sense of belonging, and building skills in communication, self-efficacy, coping and social interaction.
In 2013 camps will be offered in more than 30 states. Each camp is unique in what it offers and the ages of campers involved. Camps associated with the Army's Operation: Military Kids program focus on supporting children and youth who are or have recently experienced the deployment of a parent while the Teen Adventure Camps focus on High Adventure Opportunities for Military Teens.
Additionally, in 2013, 9 states and American Samoa are offering family camps which focus on bringing children closer to their military parents. The anecdotal information we have received from other family camps has shown these opportunities to have played a key role in families reconnecting following a deployment.
Finally, we are excited that in the winter of 2014, we will be able to offer three camp opportunities for military youth with disabilities. These camps can be found at the Military Teen Adventure Camp Website.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OSD/OMK CAMPS:
http://www.4-hmilitarypartnerships.org/p.aspx?tabid=205
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT MILITARY TEENADVENTURE CAMPS (site is being updated 1 April):
https://www.extension.purdue.edu/Adventure_camps/campsloc.html
Please disseminate as widely as possible.
If you have any questions about these camps, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Military Community and Family Policy
Telephone: 571.372.0857 FAX: 571.372.0884
Eddy Mentzer
Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense
Office of Family Policy, Children & Youth