The Operation: Military Kids Camp Initiative is providing camping opportunities for youth of military families across North Dakota.

2009 is the first year North Dakota has been awarded the OMK Camp Initiative grant. The camps will provide a variety of experiences for youth of different age groups.

The camps are being coordinated by the NDSU Extension Service 4-H Youth Development program staff and Operation: Military Kids state team members.

The camps will provide opportunities for youth from military families to meet and form friendships with other youth who are experiencing the deployment of a parent or other challenges unique to youth from military families.

Bravo I, II, and III will be outdoor skills camps. Bravo IV includes overnight camping. Technology camps will focus on building skills in computer technology, with hands-on experience in digital photography, videography or robotics. A Military Youth Institute is planned in conjunction with the Extension Youth Conference.

Bravo II, a daylong camp, will be held in Jamestown on June 13. Bravo III will be held later this summer in Traill County.

Bravo IV Camp is planned for June 26-27 at the Hankinson Sand Hills Recreation Area in Richland County. This is a family-oriented camp. Participants will bring their own tent and share in outdoor cooking, archery, air gun training and other activities.

Military youth can take part in a Technology Camp on the NDSU campus June 30. Participants will work on digital photography. They will learn how to use photography as a medium to connect with others during deployments.

The Extension Youth Conference Military Youth Institute, set for June 15-18, will bring together youth in seventh grade and older on the NDSU campus in Fargo. Youth from military and nonmilitary families will participate in a number of workshops to help them become better leaders and more informed members of their community and just have a little fun.

More information on the camps is available on the Web at http://www.ndsu.edu/4h/programs_events/omk/#c69289 or by contacting Diane Hahn, OMK project coordinator, at (701) 231-9601 or by e-mail at diane.f.hahn@ndsu.edu.

Operation: Military Kids is a partnership of Army Child and Youth Services, National 4-H Headquarters/U.S. Department of Agriculture and NDSU Extension Service 4-H Youth Development.

NDSU Agriculture Communication