Children of Military Deployed Enjoy Week at Camp

On Sunday, it’s quiet – by Friday, the laughter is contagious. That’s because over 100 youth from across New England, children of military deployed parents, have come to know one other, making new friends and finding someone they can talk to about having a parent or caregiver off to Iraq or one of several other military assignments overseas.

These children, who find themselves “Suddenly Military” when a member of their family leaves for military deployment, were at “ Camp Purple ” this past week at the UNH 4-H Camp at Bear Hill State Park . free through the efforts of UNH Cooperative Extension’s 4-H Youth Development Program, with support from the National Military Family Association and Sears, American Dream Campaign.

Operation Purple is the designation for all military branches working together. The overall goal is to provide the youth with a normal camp experience, showcasing the different branches of the military. Each day features a different branch of the military through a flag raising ceremony and playing of their branch anthem.

Whether it was learning archery or swimming, by the end of the week, the camaraderie among the kids was apparent. Arm and arm, they’d trudge up the stone steps to the dining hall to “sing” for their lunch, try to win the most points on the archery range or just have fun on the beach or in the water. One camper proudly showed off the felt “frog” she’d made in the arts and crafts class.

Thursday was New Hampshire Day, and helping serve lunch was UNH Cooperative Extension’s Dean and Director John Pike and Maj. Gen. Kenneth Clark, Adjutant General of the NH National Guard. As 4-H Youth Development Program Leader Wendy Brock noted, “It’s all about the kids.”

New Hampshire is one of 15 states participating in Operation: Military Kids (OMK) for National Guard and Reserve youth and families left behind.  As the lead organization for the NH OMK program, UNH Cooperative Extension’s 4-H Youth Development Program, with its network of youth development programs throughout the state, has worked closely over the past several months with the Army and Air National Guard.

National Guard units receive support through the Family Assistance Centers in Concord , Hillsboro , Littleton , Manchester , Portsmouth and Somersworth. Each center supports families throughout the state. At Operation Purple Camp, young people, ages 8-16 years, this week had the opportunity to master new skills from swimming, archery and crafts, and along the way learned about leadership skills experienced generosity while doing a service activity; and associated with other youth who have the common bond of a deployed family member.

The goal was to provide youth with a normal camp experience, showcasing with pride the different branches of the military. Each day features a different branch of the military through a flag raising ceremony, playing of their branch anthem and hopefully having some representatives from that branch of the military in attendance.

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