KELLEYS ISLAND, Ohio — Youth counselors, support staff and Ohio National Guard members converged on Kelleys Island on Lake Erie for a week in August to work with military Service members' children during Operation: Military Kids Camp.
During the week, more than 250 children participated in a variety of activities ranging from line dancing, swimming and water sports, talent shows, bike rides and fishing. But before the children could enjoy the week on the island, many organizations had to work together throughout the year to make it all possible.
"It takes 51 weeks to prepare for week 52," said Theresa Ferrari, camp director and an extension specialist for 4-H youth development at Ohio State University. "Counselor recruiting is pretty much a year-round occupation for us, and we just have a lot different elements that all just have to come together, some of it's like magic, it just happens."
The camp is open to children ages 9-15, from military Families whose parents are in the armed forces, with a majority of the campers coming from Ohio National Guard Families. Since the camp began in 2005, personnel from 4-H and the ONG Family Readiness and Warrior Support Program have been working together to make it possible.
"I think the strength of our relationship is that each of us knows that we couldn't do it without the other one," Ferrari said. "So it does no good to know how to run a camp but not to have any campers, and if you have campers but nowhere to put them and nothing for them to do, then you won't have that good of an experience."
Many of the campers have a parent who has been or is currently deployed. One of the goals of the camp is to bring children from military Families together, so they can share similar experiences and how they cope when their parent is deployed, Ferrari said.
"I heard from a counselor today, who is a military kid himself. He is the only person in his school who has a parent deployed," Ferrari said. "They feel isolated; people don't understand their situation; they don't have anyone to talk to about it, but when they come here, that is not the case."
Anne McKinley, who works for Operation: Military Kids and has a parent in the military, said that growing up she didn't have a support system like the OMK camp, but she can relate to campers who are dealing with the challenges of a parent being deployed.
"It helps me talk to them about it and it just feels good to be able to help them out with what I know is a really tough thing," said McKinley, who added that she loves working with the children during the weeklong camp because she feels like she is making a difference in their lives.
Service members from all branches of the military, including Ohio National Guard leaders, flew in by CH-47 Chinook helicopter for a day to see the camp in action and visit with the children. Some of the service members who flew in had children attending the camp.
"This is all about taking care of our Families and our youth that actually give a lot," said Brig. Gen. Mark Stephens, 121st Air Refueling Wing commander. "It may not be recognized by everyone, but if you're a child of a military member there are a lot of sacrifices you make. This camp recognizes those kinds of sacrifices that they make, just doing something for them to make their life a little more special."
Stephens said he had heard great things about the camp but previously did not have the opportunity to see it first hand and validate all the great things that he had heard. He said he also enjoyed interacting with the campers and sharing stories with them.
ONG leaders were able to enjoy lunch with the campers, and then held a question-and-answer session.
Col. John C. Harris Jr., Ohio assistant adjutant general for Army, said he wanted to emphasize the importance of the camp by telling the campers how important they are to their parent-service members.
"For (the campers) to see that Chinook ramp come down and for them to see Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard all come out to show support for what they are doing, that means a lot. I mean that means a whole lot," Harris said.
Markel Croston, a youth counselor at the camp, said he plans to enroll in ROTC when he gets to college, and was thankful for the chance to talk to service members and ask them advice.
"It is cool to listen to their experiences," Croston said. "If the military is something you want (to do), then you want (to talk to) someone who is already in it or is a veteran. Because they can give you a lot of advice... they became successful for a reason."
Visit these sites for more information about Operation: Military Kids Camp
ong.ohio.govfrg/frg/frg_index.htmlyouthprogram.htm | operationmilitarykids.ohio4h.org |
operationmilitarykids.org |
