Please pass this on to all military youth………

Department Hosts Adventure Camps for Military Teens
By Elaine Sanchez
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, April 8, 2011 –

Whether it’s kayaking down a river, backpacking through the forest or
racing “high-adventure style,” military teens with a thirst for adventure will
have a host of options to choose from this year. The Defense Department
has teamed up with the Agriculture Department and 12 land-grant universities
to offer military teens low-cost, high-adventure camps at 50 locations,
including one in Alaska and two in Europe, officials said. Four of the camps will
offer high-adventure opportunities to family members with special needs, they
added. “This is a great opportunity for our military youth to leave their
comfort zones and challenge themselves in a variety of ways,” said Robert L.
Gordon III, deputy assistant secretary of defense for military community and
family policy. “The skills they learn through these camps will remain with them
for the rest of their lives.” This joint DOD-USDA effort arose out of the
Presidential Study Directive 9, in which all government agencies were directed
to identify ways to better serve military families. In January, President Barack
Obama released the results of that directive, and touched on the nearly 50
commitments agencies made to support military families, many of which
focused on children’s well-being. The camps will offer military youth
experiences not readily available through traditional programs, officials said.
Additionally, due to frequent moves, parents and youth may be unaware of
local opportunities. These camps are intended to fill that gap, they said.

The USDA, land-grant universities and the Cooperative Extension System will
work with local communities to offer the camps. Military teens ages 14 to 18
can pick their adventure -- from a five-day kayaking trip through Washington’s
San Juan Islands to a four-day adventure racing course in the Northeast to a
one-week backpacking trip through Alaska’s Denali Forest. Special needs
camps will be offered in Ohio, California and New Hampshire, and will feature
active sports such as skiing, dog sledding, tubing and sled hockey.

Camps will become available as early as next week and will continue
throughout the year. People can check out camp locations online at
https://www.extension.purdue.edu/Adventure_camps/campsloc.html.
For camp times, see
https://www.extension.purdue.edu/Adventure_camps/campsdate.html. The
camps are open to all services, both active and reserve; however,
participation will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Program participation
will either be no cost or at a very low cost, officials said, noting that some
fees may be reimbursable. Travel expenses may be the responsibility of the
family.

All of the camps are accredited through the American Camping Association,
and most will have a military family life consultant in attendance, officials said.
All staff members go through extensive training and, due to the high
adventure aspects of these camps, many of the staff are experts in areas
such as climbing, camping and water sports. Along with these camps, military
services offer a variety of other summer opportunities, including day camps
and specialty camps. Military families should contact their local family support
center to find out what opportunities are offered in their area. Youth also can
participate in the 4-H, Boys and Girls Club of America, Boy Scouts and Girl
Scouts and in installation-based workshops, officials said.

(If you want to be removed from my distribution list, please let me know.)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mary Frances Griffin
Operation Military Kids Youth Specialist
Joint Family Support Assistance Program
[log in to unmask]
615-313-0543 - wk
785-313-0096 - cell
615-313-0526 - fax



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