Military kids camps and events announced

  • Published
  • By Senior Master Sgt. Eric Peterson
  • 120th Airlift Wing Public Affairs Office
GREAT FALLS, Mont. --  The Montana National Guard Child and Youth Program Coordinator has announced the 2016 events and camps to be held for children of military members.

Sara Cease would like guard parents to be aware of the many free opportunities available to their children beginning in April and running through August.

A short synopsis of events and camps follow from a brochure provided by the Child and Youth Program.

Kids Mobility Days will be held in Belgrade (July 13), Kalispell (July 26), Missoula (July 28), Billings (August 10), and Great Falls (August 17). This is a 4-hour day camp opportunity for our youngest guard kids, ages 5-10 (at the time of camp) or ages 3-5 with parent participation. Child and Youth Programs with help from the Family Assistance Center and the local unit will put a fun twist on what basic training is like! There will be obstacle courses, medical readiness training, service learning, and so much more. We promise, no drill sergeants!                        

Fort Harrison Day Camp will be held in Helena August 1-5. This is a day camp for campers aged 6-12. Fort Harrison Day Camp provides children a peek into the lives of their military parents, all while participating in fun and educational opportunities! Tours will be held on Fort Harrison, with a special visit from the Helena 4-H Teens! 4-H activities will lend a hand to make this a busy, and fun filled week of military kid fun! Registration is available on our website!

Camp Runnamucka will be held June 26-30. Come join Child and Youth Programs for a week to remember! Kids 9-17 (at time of camp) can enjoy sports, Goofy Olympics, crafts, cabin time, skit night, campfires, and all of the other traditional camp goodies. Your kids will be a part of a community that will build a lifelong camaraderie with other guard kids going through similar phases of deployment and military life. Applications will be available on our website starting April 1-April 30 with selected campers being notified May 15 of their selection. Selection is based on the deployment status of your service member and other criteria. JC (Junior Counselor) training will be held the weekend of June 22-25 (JC opportunities are available for those 14 years or older).

Teen Resilience Program will be held in Belgrade (July 12), Kalispell (July 25), Missoula (July 27), Billings (August 9) and Great Falls (August 16). During the three-hour event, teens 12 to 18 years of age dive into a two-hour training. Running parallel to the Comprehensive Soldier and Family Fitness (CSF2) training their military parents receive, teens will learn about resilience, hunting the good stuff, goal setting, and the ATC model (Activating Event, Thoughts and Consequences) in "Teen Friendly". Then join us for a game of bowling to end this fabulous evening!

Teen Leadership Summit runs from April 28 to May 1 and will be held in Bozeman. Military Kids are out of this world! Join us for a fun-filled weekend with a space theme! Learn skills such as leadership, communication, and so much more from the Child and Youth Program leaders as well as our nationally recognized speaker! Grades 6 through 12 will spend the weekend with teens from Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, North Dakota, and South Dakota.

Family Resilience Camp will be held in Ferndale August 26-28. This is an awesome weekend designed for the whole family to experience camp, improve communication skills, learn new life lessons, go hiking or spend time relaxing on the lake and have a great time with your family! Families with kids over the age of 5 are welcome to attend.

Month of the Military Child events will be held during April in locations found throughout Montana. Many events are planned across the state to recognize the strength and sacrifices of military kids. Join your local Family Assistance Center Specialist for an event in your area. April 15th is "Purple Up Day"! Wear purple to show your support of military kids. Maj. Gen. Matthew Quinn, the Adjutant General of the Montana National Guard, has signed certificates of appreciation for all military kids. Ask for your certificate along with a proclamation from Governor Steve Bullock declaring April the Month of the Military Child in Montana! New this year: Month of the Military Child Ball - April 2nd Great Falls and April 23rd in Helena.

To register for camps or to receive complete information on any of the free events listed, please visit the Montana National Guard Child and Youth Program website at www.montanaguardfamily.org or call (406) 324-3925.