Photo By Staff Sgt. Toshiko Gregg | Eighty-seven Army Reserve children celebrate as Military Day comes to an end at Camp...... read more read more
KING, N.C. - At least 87 Army Reserve children ranging from the ages of 7-15 attended the Army Reserve Enrichment Camp here, July 10-15.
The AREC is a six day camp organized by Army Reserve Child, Youth and School Services and they partner with accredited camps and national youth organizations to make a very exceptional opportunity possible. This camp gives them a chance to acknowledge military children and show how community partnerships can provide opportunities to educate others about the strength, resiliency and sacrifices of military children.
The 81st Regional Support Command’s CYSS outreach specialist Jennifer Stevens is attending the camp for the first time and explains how important these partnerships are in the military community.
“These types of partnerships ensure maximum support of our soldiers, families and children who are most often geographically dispersed” said Stevens.
During the week, one day is designated as Military Day where the children get involved in several military driven activities. This day creates a bond between dependents of deployed, fallen and wounded soldiers. These children are able to support and relate to one another.
This special day gives each child the opportunity to carry themselves like a soldier, as they wear their dog tags and bracelet that they wear for the duration identifying them as a military dependent while marching in formation singing cadences.
After they were briefed by the camp leader on the agenda of the day, they were released to visit at least two, out of the eight, stations that was setup for them. Giving them the opportunity to taste test meals ready to eat, go outside to do land navigation, write a letter to a hero, make a journal, make military blankets, camouflage their faces and participate in a hero pack relay race and pin huck game.
In the past, Military Day just consisted of the children making military blankets and receiving educational information on the military. The children complained how bored they were. This year camp lead Betty Smith, Army Reserve CYSS Community Outreach specialist from U.S. Army Civil Affairs & Psychological Operations Command Fort Bragg, N.C., said her challenge was to find a better way to connect, entertain and give each child the opportunity to get more involved.
Marykristy and Remyleons Eweama children of 81st RSC’s Maj. Ike Eweama, chaplain, enjoyed their experience so much that they can not wait until next year. Remyleons was able to defeat his challenges like swimming without his float and he learned how to cross the lake on a rope. He said to his father "Daddy it was an awesome time, can you send me back next year?"
Marykristay said this was one of her best summer’s ever.
Camp Hanes’ mission is helping people reach their God-given potential in spirit, mind and body. Smith took the mission of the camp and made it her own by waiting, by showing compassion and concern for each military child’s well-being. Her team’s goal is to touch the hearts of all 87 children that arrives at the camp.
“My goal is to give each child a sense of peace, a sense of I’m not in this situation alone, this camp is actually created to set that kid aside” said Smith.
A CYSS outreach specialist’s responsibility during this camp is to supervise and monitor each military child by following them all day long, from one end of the camp grounds to the next. If they happen to see a child sitting or standing alone they take that opportunity to find out why.
There are 100 slots held for Army Reserve dependents. Camper’s selection will be prioritized based on them being dependents of a fallen soldier, wounded, or a soldier who is currently deployed.
“This camp is a great environment for our children. They are able to hang with children from the community and other Army Reserve children that have the same experiences that they do, like dealing with a parent being deployed,” said Stevens.
| Date Taken: | 07.13.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 07.20.2011 13:57 |
| Story ID: | 74021 |
| Location: | KING, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 67 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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