The war in Iraq and the global war on terrorism changed the face of our military and those who serve our country. These families need support. To help this coming summer, UNH Cooperative Extension’s 4-H Camps will offer free week of summer camp to children of deployed parents.

UNH Cooperative Extension and the NH National Guard collaborated with the National Military Family Association and Sears, Roebuck and Co. to provide a summer camp experience for children of military families this summer.

This summer camp experience will provide a unique offering for those involved in the military and those involved with UNH Cooperative Extension 4-H Youth Development to create a community just for children of military families.

Are you, or do you know someone who is a member of any branch of the military service? Is there a child in the family who would like to go to camp this summer, free?

As a way to do something special for children from military families, Operation Purple Camp takes place at the University of New Hampshire’s 4-H Bear Hill Camp from August 14 to August 19. UNH 4-H Bear Hill Camp is located in Bear Brook State Park in Allenstown.

The National Military Family Association (NMFA), through the financial support of Sears, developed the camps, 22 this year, as a way to get children from across the military services together to learn from one another and share their experiences in dealing with deployment-related stress.

They will learn about different cultures, share talents, gain new skills and most importantly, enjoy much-deserved carefree fun and treasured lifetime memories. The New Hampshire outdoors provides a natural learning environment that helps young people put the chaos of their every day life on the back burner for a week while having fun “being a kid.” The UNH 4-H Youth Development program is dedicating a week of camp this coming summer to serve military youth from New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts and other states.

Funding for the Operation Purple at UNH 4-H Bear Hill Camp is from Sears, Roebuck and Co.  Sears’ partnership with NMFA is part of the Sears American Dream Campaign, the company’s multi-year, $100 million commitment to strengthen families, homes and communities.

Operation Purple Camp at UNH 4-H Bear Hill is available to children of military personnel, targeting kids 8-16 years of age. All are encouraged to apply.

The goal of Operation Purple at UNH 4-H Camp Bear Hill is to have all branches of service represented, with emphasis on those service branches from New Hampshire and the New England region. First priority will be to those youth who have a deployed or recently deployed parent (or other family member residing in the same house as camper). Deployment must occur from June 2004 to September 2006.

The registration process runs from April 15 to May 15. Families can call 603-862-2184 to get an application for Operation Purple at UNH 4-H Bear Hill Camp or visit the website and click on the Register for Operation Purple. Click on the Operation Camp Purple logo to learn more about the program nationally.

Background Information

About NMFA

NMFA is a predominantly volunteer-operated 501(c) (3) not-for-profit organization with a dedicated group of volunteer representatives, based around the world.  These representatives are the “eyes and ears” of the association. Through their daily lives they embody the military lifestyle, including active duty, reserve, Guard and retirees.  They also interact, educate and inform military families of their benefits.  In so doing, they contribute to the association’s mission: to improve the quality of life for all military families through education, information and advocacy. For more information about the NMFA visit the association Web site.

About the Sears American Dream Campaign

Sears’ partnership with NMFA is part of the Sears American Dream Campaign, the company’s multi-year, $100 million commitment to strengthen families, homes and communities.  From helping low- and moderate-income homeowners nationwide outfit and maintain their homes to assisting victims of natural disasters to providing thousands of children with new apparel, the Sears American Dream Campaign is making a meaningful difference in communities across the nation. For more information about the Sears American Dream Campaign, visit the campaign Web site.

by Chris Conlon, UNH Cooperative Extension’s 4-H Camps Manager