Ohio National Guard News

Ohio's military kids enjoy summer sun at Kelleys Island

Story and photos by Sgt. Joanna Bradshaw, Ohio National Guard Public Affairs

Maj. Gen. Mark E. Bartman visits Ohio Military Kids Camp Kelleys Island Aug. 8, 2018, at Kelleys Island, Ohio. Bartman, the Ohio adjutant general, spoke during one of the camp's “Military Moments” and talked with the gathering of 9- to 15-year-olds about the year's theme, BASIC (Building a Stronger Individual and Community).

Campers from the Ohio Military Kids Camp Kelleys Island gather around the campfire area for a “Military Moment” with Maj. Gen. Mark E. Bartman, Ohio adjutant general.

Campers at Ohio Military Kids Camp Kelleys Island arrange themselves into the shape of the Ohio state flag.

KELLEYS ISLAND, Ohio (08/08/18) — A weeklong summer camp for children of Ohio Military Families was held Aug. 6-10 off the northern Ohio shores of Lake Erie. The Ohio Military Kids Camp Kelleys Island was hosted by The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences and the Ohio National Guard, joining forces for a 14th year to provide 9- to 15-year-old youths with opportunities to wakeboard, sail, water-ski and engage in team-building activities like sand volleyball, group challenges and bonfires.

The purpose of Camp Kelleys Island is to provide positive youth development experiences and support for the families, particularly the children of military members throughout the deployment cycle. It provides youths the opportunity to meet others with similar military family backgrounds, learn new things and have fun outdoors.

On Aug. 8, Maj. Gen. Mark E. Bartman, Ohio adjutant general, gathered the campers for a “Military Moment.” At one point in his time with the campers, Bartman asked if anyone had ever had a parent leave with the military for a long time; nearly every hand shot to the sky.

“It’s probably the best thing I’ve ever done in my career,” said Dr. Theresa Ferrari, a co-director of the camp and instructor at Ohio State.

There are almost 33,000 military youth in Ohio from all branches and components. Thirty-six percent are between ages 0 and 5; 39 percent are 6 to 12; and 25 percent are13 to 18. With such a large population of military families, it remains important to create communities to educate affected members about the impact of deployment, while helping family members support their deployed loved ones.

The Ohio Military Kids Camp Kelleys Island is an example of one of those communities, which many campers, counselors and directors said they hope to continue for many years to come.