Camps
Air Forces Services' Teen Aviation Camp - Colorado Springs, CO
Air Force Services' Aviation Camp is an awesome opportunity for teens to have a glimpse of life at the United States Air Force Academy. Aviation Camp is offered annually the first week in June. Flying in a Cessna 145 is just one of the highlights at this camp. Participants are selected through a competitive application process. Only teens entering their sophomore or junior year of high-school may apply.
Air Force Services' Teen Leadership Camp - July 9-13, 2012
Air Force Services Youth Programs is excited to offer the Air Force Teen Leadership Camp. The camp is been held at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Teens will engage in team building, classroom workshops, and leadership activities while experiencing college campus living.
This camp is for high school students freshman (must have completed 9th grade prior to the camp) to senior year in the spring of 2012 who are interested in leadership, team dynamics and peer mentorship.
Eligible applicants include teen dependants of AF Active Duty Military, Active Duty Military assigned to or living on an Air Force Base, AF Retired Military, AF Civilian Employees, or activated Air National Guard or AF Reserve at OCONUS and CONUS installations. Priority will be given to dependants with deployed sponsors.
Air Force Space Camp - Huntsville, AL
Apply to Fly! Experience the excitement of Space Exploration at Space Camp.
The Air Force Space Camp (AFSC) is a residential 6-day program that shows youth ages 12-18 firsthand what it takes to be an astronaut. Activities include simulated Space Shuttle missions, training simulators, rocket building and launches, scientific experiments, and lectures on the past, present, and future of space exploration. The camp is held the last week of July. Participants are selected through a competitive application process.
American Wanderer Summer Camp - RV Camp for Kids
The next generation of a traditional summer camp for boys and girls ages 11-17. Our Cabins roll and our Camp moves. Our Campers and Guides explore some of the most magnificent parks in the world - all right here in America. We offer 4 distinct 2 week sessions exploring over 34 Parks in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming.
Scholarships - Children of Active Duty, Reserve, National Guard, Retired and Former Service members are all eligible to apply. Children of Wounded Warriors must annotate their applications as such due to multiple categories of funding sources. National Guard, Military Reserve and Wounded Warriors should also see www.ourmilitatarykids.org for additional funding.
Army Reserve Enrichment Camps
Army Reserve Enrichment Camps provide meaningful opportunities for interaction and activities that translate into resilient military youth. Campers will have the opportunity to interact with other Army Reserve connected youth, learn about the unique factors associated with being an Army Reserve dependent and most of all, and have fun!
The primary goal of the Army Reserve Enrichment Camps is to provide a fun and rewarding experience for Army Reserve youth ages 4-16 years. We have developed a partnership with accredited camps and national youth organizations to make this unique opportunity possible.
Bernard Curtis Brown II Memorial NASA Space Camp Scholarship (ends Mar 12, 2012)
The Space Camp is a six-day program that shows young men and women firsthand what it takes to be an astronaut. Activities include simulated Space Shuttle missions, training simulators, rocket building and launches, scientific experiments, and lectures of the past, present, and future of space exploration.
Space Camp is offered in Huntsville, Alabama, and takes a unique, fun and hands-on approach to learning outside the classroom – and students leave with a greater appreciation for school and their studies. Each child learns about astronauts and space travel, but they also experience something even more important: developing bonds of friendship. For more detailed information about Space Camp, visit their web site at www.spacecamp.com.
The Bernard Curtis Brown II Memorial Space Camp scholarship is funded by the Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC). The scholarship covers full tuition to include:
- Round trip transportation (from student’s home base to Space Camp)
- Meals
- Lodging
- Program Materials
Student applicant must first meet the requirements below:
- The child of a Military Member on Active Duty or Mobilized Guard or Reserves; OR
- The child of a Military Member who died while serving on Active Duty or Mobilized Guard or Reserve Status; AND
- Enrolled in grades 6 through 9
Camp C.O.P.E.
As the U.S. reaches its 8th year at war, it becomes increasingly clear that Kids Serve Too! The children of deployed, injured and fallen heroes just may be the strongest and most forgotten heroes today. For some kids the adjustment to a deployed or injured parent can be difficult to understand and cope with. At Camp C.O.P.E. kids learn ways to deal with and cope with this difficult time in their life. Camp C.O.P.E. travels across the nation to different military installations, providing the camps at no cost to the families.
Camp C.O.P.E. strives to help the children of service members cope with the transitions and/or trauma they are facing in response to the deployment or injuries sustained by their soldiers.
Camp Desert Kids (Families United USA)
There are more than 1 million military kids, most of whom will be affected by deployment during their childhood. Deployment is challenging for children, not only because they do not always understand the separation from their parent, but also because they have trouble conceptualizing where Mom or Dad has gone and what they're doing there.
Through a fun and educational event hosted at locations across the country, Camp Desert Kids gives military children the opportunity to experience deployment with their homefront parent in a unique way. Utilizing games, maps, fun facts, cultural activities, crafts, regional food and drink, and even the chance to dress up like Mom or Dad in full camouflage gear, Camp Desert Kids works to reduce the unknown in our military children’s lives.
Camp Hero for Military Kids (Austin, TX)
Monday, August 6 – Friday August 10, 2012
Monday, August 13 – Friday, August 17, 2012
The Comfort Crew for Military Kids is excited to be hosting a camp for local military youth. The camp will consist of sessions designed to support the physical and emotional resiliency of military children, and focus on creating a system of peer-to-peer support with their community.
Channel 3 Kids Camp (Andover, CT)
Channel 3 Kids Camp is offering a special week of camp for military kids ages 8-17 during the week of July 9-14, 2012! For more information visit their website or call Melissa at 860-742-2267.
Defending the Blue Line
Our mission at Defending The Blue Line (DTBL) is ensuring that children of military members are afforded every opportunity to participate in the game of hockey. We accomplish this by providing free equipment for military kids, hockey camps, special events, and financial assistance for registration fees and other costs associated with hockey.
Military Teen Adventure Camps
Would you like to spend time whitewater rafting, hiking, rock climbing, winter camping, skiing, backpacking, mountain biking, exploring the environment, running rope courses, geo-caching, or practicing wilderness survival skills? What if you could do these activities with other military youth just like you?
Military teens (14–18 years old) will have an opportunity to participate in adventure camps scheduled April 2011 through April 2012. These high energy, high adventure, and high experience camps are planned across the United States from Alaska to Maine and from Colorado to Georgia as well as states in between. There are even opportunities for military teens in Europe. This is the perfect chance for you to experience the outdoors as you never have before!
Each camp offers a unique outdoor experience that will allow you to build your leadership, self-confidence, and teamwork skills while participating in activities like camp cooking and archery. Camps have funding available to assist with transportation costs.
Camps for youth with special needs (mental, physical, and emotional) are also planned in California, Ohio, and New Hampshire. There is something for everyone!
Motocross Camp (Georgia)
MTF is pleased to announce the 4th annual Free Motocross Camp for Military Families will be April 25-27, 2012.
If you are active duty or retired military and have not previously attended our free military camp then you may register now by sending us an email as soon as possible (maximum two riders per family). If you have been to this camp before we will register you if spaces are available after February 1st.
Operation Military Kids Summer Camps
OSD/OMK Summer Camps will be offered in selected states in summer 2012.
Operation: Military Kids is proud to host the following camping experiences for the children, youth and families of all military services experiencing deployment. These 2012 OSD/OMK Camps are funded through a partnership with the Department of Defense, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Military Community & Family Policy, Office of Family Policy/Children and Youth. Camping opportunities are listed alphabetically by state. Please connect with the identified point of contact for each camp of interest for complete information regarding location, details, registration, etc.
Operation Outdoors (ASYMCA)
Tens of thousands of U.S. service men and women have deployed overseas to Afghanistan and Iraq, and it is their families at home — particularly the children — that have experienced the anxiety and bewilderment of deployment. The Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) Operation Outdoors camp program provides an opportunity for these children to take a break from their everyday worries. The unique atmosphere of the camp provides an opportunity for military kids to meet and have fun with each other and build a support network of friends going through the same experience. Children are also able to take advantage of outdoor activities that will help foster leadership and teamwork skills, and boost their self-esteem.
In addition to the camps for children, the ASYMCA sponsors camps that reunite families with loved ones returning from war. Service members are able to take mini getaways to the outdoors and spend quality time with their entire family, catching up and reconnecting.
Available Locations
- Honolulu Armed Services YMCA
- Camp Pendleton Armed Services YMCA
- Fort Campbell Armed Services YMCA
- Armed Services YMCA of Alaska
- Junction City Family YMCA
- Marysville/North County Branch YMCA
- Watertown Family YMCA
- Southeast Family YMCA
Operation Purple Camp (NMFA)
Operation Purple camps offer a free week of summer fun for military kids with parents who have been, are currently, or will be deployed. The goal of the Operation Purple camp program is to give military children tools to help deal with the stresses that result from a parent’s deployment, through a memorable camp experience in a “purple” environment. Operation Purple camps are open to military children of all ranks and Services: active and reserve components—and give priority to children whose parents are in a deployment phase between September 2011 and December 2012.
Due to budget constraints, the National Military Family Association was forced to reduce the number of camp locations for the 2012 season. Because of the extremely limited number of spots for the 2012 camp season, we highly encourage families with children who have never attended Operation Purple camp to apply. If you know a family with children who have never attended Operation Purple camp, encourage them to apply so as many deserving military children as possible can experience Operation Purple camp.
Camps will be held in Alaska, California, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Indiana, North Carolina, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and West Virginia.
Purple Heart Ranch (Sterling City, TX) (Military Warriors Hero Support Foundation)
Purple Heart Ranch is open exclusively to combat wounded heroes and to Gold Star families. The ranch is also open to children of combat wounded heroes and those who have a parent currently deployed to a combat zone. Both the families of the wounded heroes and the parents of the children are encouraged to come and enjoy the experience with the hunters. There is fishing available at both properties and many other activities for the families. Both ranches are rich in history and are littered with Native American artifacts, especially arrow heads.
Send a Kid to Camp (Washington)
The CRISTA camp for military children, Operation Xtreme, was created in 2011 to give children of military families the opportunity to experience a fun-filled week of summer camp.
In 2011, we welcomed over 230 campers to Operation Xtreme. The program returns in June 2012, and momentum is building to benefit even more children. 2012 Operation Xtreme camp dates and registration information - LINK. Here is a direct LINK to the camps.
Sisters under Sail's Daughters of US Military Sailing Scholarship
Sisters Under Sail, a non-profit dedicated to teaching teenage girls leadership skills and life lessons through sail training, will award several scholarships this summer (2012) to daughters of our military for a six-day passage.
The program is open to daughters of all Active Duty, Reserve, and National Guard Servicemembers as well as daughters of our Nation’s fallen Heroes. Applicants must be between the ages of 13 and 18. Representatives from Military Families United and the United States Military Academy will sit on the scholarship selection committee. If you have any questions about the program or application process, please feel free to contact Dawn Santamaria via email or phone at mailto:dawn@sistersundersail.org and cell: 908-256-6758. To apply, visit the website at http://www.sistersundersail.org. The deadline for submission is March 30.
The Comfort Crew for Military Kids - Summer Day Camp for Military Youth
The Comfort Crew for Military Kids—an initiative of the Trevor Romain Foundation—and Train 4 The Game (T4TG)—an elite athletic training facility—will offer a summer program serving approximately 30 youth, grades 6 through 12, from military families in the Austin area.
Registration is required prior to camp participation. Deadline for registration is August 5, 2012. All camp fees have been waived for military families!
The camp will use fitness training as a way to address the unique challenges military kids face:
- Transitions
- Teamwork
- Nutrition
- Bullies
- Goal setting and more
Designed to empower and encourage the participants to continue training, the program builds resilience for both physical and emotional fitness!
The First Tee
Through a congressional appropriation, The First Tee will provide life skills education and character development to children of men and women of the United States Armed Forces. The First Tee will be able to accomplish this by using a three-pronged impact approach:
1. The chapter based "Military Affiliate Program" on domestic installations
2. The First Tee Nine Core Values Program and
3. The First Tee Program for Children of Guardsmen and Reservists
Tiger Woods Learning Center Summer Camp (Anaheim, CA) - July 15-20, 2012
The Tiger Woods Learning Center will collaborate with the Military Child Education
Coalition to identify and recruit students between the ages 11-13 to attend TWLC Residential Summer Academy. The week long academy, summer at the Tiger Woods Learning Center focuses on STEM (Science, Engineering, Technology and Math) or Golf for the beginning player. The flexible curriculum will allow students to move along at their own pace with customized lessons for a fun and appropriate challenge. All students that attend the STEM Academy will receive 18 hours of STEM instruction along with three enrichment workshops for the week. STEM classes include, Comparative Zoology, Resourceful Robotics, Velocity Vehicles and Video Game Design, while enrichment classes include Digital Photography & Photoshop, Rocketry, Alternative Energy, Comparative Marine Life and Beginning Golf.
The week long program is FREE for qualified military students - the normal cost is $950!
Families are responsible for purchasing and coordinating student travel arrangements.
Applications are due no later than April 30, 2012.
Upward Sports
Upward Sports offers a scholarship to every child whose parent or legal guardian is serving overseas.
The world's largest Christian sports league for children, Upward Sports offers a first-class sports experience that emphasizes healthy competition, sportsmanship, skills building and fun versus the "win-at-all-costs" mentality found in many children sports leagues. Upward Sports Leagues teach K5 through sixth-grade children skills for the sports arena and values for life through basketball, soccer, flag football and cheerleading leagues. Today, more than one million people from 46 states play, coach, referee or volunteer in Upward Sports Leagues.
USS Kidd Overnight Camp (Louisianna 4-H)
Come climb aboard the USS Kidd for an overnight experience for the whole family! The USS Kidd is a World War II destroyer that is docked in downtown Baton Rouge. On Friday you and your family will take part in an overnight stay aboard the ship and tour the destroyer. This stay will conclude on Saturday with a museum tour. You are then invited to attend the 4-H LSU Tailgate Party for the LSU vs. Western Kentucky game. This is an annual event sponsored by the LSU AgCenter and 4-H. Activities will include free lunch, games for the whole family and lots of fun! Tickets to the game will not be provided, but you may purchase them on your own. The game will also be available to watch for those attending the tailgate party.
This is a family event. The camp is open to all military youth who are five years to eighteen years in age. Each child/children must be accompanied by an adult that is responsible for them. All adults staying at camp will have to complete a volunteer screening and training that is mandatory. Once an adult registers for an event, they will receive more information on the screening and training.
US Tennis Association
Military kids ~ Interested in a FREE 1-Year USTA 10 and Under Junior Membership? Until December 31, 2012 kids 10 and under, new to the USTA can receive a free membership, which includes Bounce, a targeted newsletter for kids!
VFW Camp Trotter (Newaygo, MI) - Not free
Camp Trotter is a children’s camp located 7 miles East of Newaygo on M-82. The camp sits on the shores of one of west Michigan's beautiful and picturesque lakes. It is owned and operated by the Department of Michigan Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. The management and oversight is carried out by a committee of elected members of the Michigan VFW, who take pride in keeping the camp in pristine condition to ensure the comfort and Safety of our guests. The camp is fully licensed and insured with the State of Michigan.
Camp Trotter exists primarily for children of veterans, but is not limited thereto; we offer five weeks of camping to children seven to twelve years old from all over the United States. The camp includes summer activities on site including swimming, boating, hiking, biking, arts and crafts, archery, softball, volleyball, as well as campfire activities. The children are given a general knowledge of science, art, and nature, and taught patriotism, courage, self reliance and kindred virtues. We try to further instill upon our campers morals and values by combining educational activities with fun, our goal is to guide and assist our youth to build a more conscientious, responsible, and productive society.
Copyright Benita Koeman 2008 - 2012
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