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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 7, 2008 No. 08-069 KANSAS NATIONAL GUARD HOSTS ANNUAL KIDS CAMP JULY 7-11 IN SALINA;
GRADUATION CEREMONY FRIDAY Children of Kansas National Guardsmen will have to opportunity enjoy the great outdoors and build some memories during the annual Kansas National Guard Kids Camp, July 7-11, at the Kansas Regional Training Institute in Salina. Campers range from age 9 to 17 and are from all across Kansas. “The purpose of Kids Camp is to allow National Guard kids from all over the state to meet and befriend other Guard kids who face the same deployment issues,” said Dezaree Harding, Kansas National Guard State Youth Coordinator “With Guard kids being so dispersed, this camp is an opportunity for them to know they are not alone in deployment situations.” “These camps are great fun and a wonderful way to help build character in these kids,” said Maj. Gen. Tod Bunting, the adjutant general. “They make new friends while learning about leadership and teamwork, the same sort of qualities their parents learn in the National Guard. It also helps them see that the Kansas National Guard is a like one big family. Maybe their dad or mom is away for a while, serving their country, but there are still other members of the Guard family that are here for them.” The camp is open to all children of National Guard members ages 9 to 12. A similar Teen Camp is also for ages 13-17. During the camp, the participants are divided into squads and take part in a variety of team-building exercises and experiences, games, sports, swimming, arts and crafts, demonstrations of military transportation, a night road march and more.
Graduation Ceremony/Check Presentation
A graduation ceremony will be held for the students Friday, July 11, at 10 a.m. Gen. Bunting will speak to the students during the ceremony, and his wife Barbara will help present awards to the campers. At approximately 10:30 a.m., the Armed Services YMCA will present a $12,000 check to the Kansas National Guard Foundation to fund this year’s camp. Retired Navy Rear Adm. Frank Gallo, national executive director of the Armed Services YMCA, will present the check to Michele Henry, director of the Kansas National Guard Foundation, which coordinates the camp. “These camps are very important to our Guard families,” said Henry. “Not only do they get this great outdoor experience, they have a chance to build new friendships with other kids. We really appreciate the Armed Services YMCA and Sierra Club making this money available to us.” The money comes to Armed Services YMCA through the generosity of the Sierra Club Foundation, which partners with the Armed Services YMCA to provide outdoor camping experience for hundreds of military kids, as well as military families, through its Military Family Outdoor Initiative program. “The Sierra Club is committed to providing quality outdoor experiences for Armed Forces personnel and their families. Attending camp is an important opportunity for respite and renewal for these military children, especially critical during this heavy time of deployment,” said Martin LeBlanc, Sierra Club National Youth Education Director. -30- |
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