Remember when summer camp meant being bussed to a lake surrounded by cabins; where you would participate in arts-and-crafts; learn how to paddle a canoe; and stuff your face with s’mores? Nowadays, there seems to be a specialized camp for everything and everyone. From Space Camp to Weight Loss Camp, Foreign Language Camp to Bible Camp and now… Military Camp.
Before you get the wrong idea, this camp is not a place parents send their wayward children, rather it is a summer camp program specifically designed for youngsters whose parents are heading off to war. Its official name is: Operation Military Kids and it has hosted hundreds of children from across the country.
The camp’s director says the goal of Operation Military Kids is to offer some relief to children who must face the reality that they will be separated from a parent (or parents) for an extended amount of time. Camp counselors say many of the young campers are under a significant amount of stress and it’s their goal to help provide comfort and support while they are under their care.
Not surprising many of the children who participate in the camp admit they don’t speak openly about their fears and concerns regarding their parent’s deployment. But, camp directors say that is why it is so essential that a place like Operation Military Kids exists—so kids can share their experiences with peers who are sharing similar situations.
Operation Military Kids’ campers get the chance to ride horses, participate in bon fires and other traditional summer camp activities, but what sets this camp apart for others is the part of the day that each camper is given a crash course in why their parents are needed elsewhere. They are taught that their parents are rebuilding lives for people who don’t enjoy the same freedoms that they have, and that they’re doing positive things for people a half a world away. Campers are shown equipment designed to protect their parents at war and are given the chance to design and construct mock-ups of robots that disable bombs.
Operation Military Kids’ campsites are located in 17 states, including Arkansas, Texas, and North Carolina. Children can stay at the camp for as little as one day or as long as a week. For more information on Operation Military Kids click here.