The North Dakota Operation: Military Kids program will offer a variety of camp experiences this summer for military-connected youth.
"Youth of families with a member serving in any branch of the military can meet other kids from military families at these action-packed camps while
participating in fun, hands-on activities," says Diane Hahn, Operation: Military Kids (OMK) state program coordinator. "Families can choose the camp experience best suited for them."
Six day camps and three resident camps will be held.
BRAVO day camps are set for:
* Roosevelt Park, Minot, July 12
* Turtle River State Park, Arvilla, July 14
* Bagg Bonanza Farm, Mooreton, July 19
* Fort Lincoln State Park, Mandan, July 21
* Elmwood Park, West Fargo, July 26
* Prairie Outpost Park, Dickinson, July 29
The registration fee is $10.
Each day camp offers a core program designed to engage youth from military families in connecting with other kids who may share a similar experience. Each camp also will offer local learning resources such as archery, fishing or outdoor skills.
The BRAVO day camps will be hosted by the local county Extension office and led by state OMK Camp Team staff.
"This day is planned to be family friendly, have great food and offer families a stress-free drop-off and pickup of their kids," Hahn says.
The five-day resident camps will be held at the Western 4-H Camp near Washburn. The camp dates are:
* June 5-9, Outdoor Adventures for Military-connected Youth -- It will offer a traditional camp experience for youth 8 to 14 years old with sessions that focus on the life events youth face as a military family member.
* June 26-29, Military Youth Camp for youth 8 to 11 years old
* July 10-14, Military Youth Camp for youth 12 to 14 years old
Kids attending Military Youth Camp will experience components of military life, including a military-based obstacle course, an introduction to all branches of the military, formations, military equipment and deployment discussions.
All of the camps will use activities from the OMK resources to build communication and coping skills, and ability to deal with stress. The
registration fee is $75.
Register online at http://www.ndsu.edu/4h/.
The OMK camps are administered through the North Dakota 4-H program with a grant funded by the Office of the Secretary of Defense and the National 4-H Military Partnership.
Youth visiting or moving to another state this summer can visit the national OMK website at http://www.operationmilitarykids.org to learn about OMK camps they could attend in those states. The national OMK program is hosting 233 camping experiences nationwide for youth this year.
