Date: Wed, 13 May 2009 11:14:16 -0400
From: Lauren Irby
Subject: Operation Military Kids 4-H Camp this Summer
North Carolina Operation: Military Kids (OMK) and Millstone 4-H Camp is pleased and excited to announce that Camp OMK 2009 will take place July 12-17, 2009. We just received confirmation late today that Camp OMK 2009 has been fully funded and is free to all participants by a generous donor. Operation: Military Kids (OMK) understands our military youth are experiencing difficult times and situations with the deployment of a parent or parents.
Millstone 4-H Camp will host Camp OMK 2009 and will provide an excellent camping experience for military youth 8 to 13 years olds (Guard, Reserve and Active Duty) whose parent(s) are in pre-deployment stage, currently deployed or in post-deployment stage.
Millstone 4-H Camp is nestled in the tall pines of the Sandhills near Ellerbe, NC about 30 miles south of Southern Pines. Established in 1939, it was once a site where granite was quarried by hand to provide grinding stones for mills located in the piedmont of North and South Carolina. The center covers 320 acres of undisturbed woodlands and is situated within the 60,000-acre Sandhills Wildlife Management Gamelands.
Near the center of the camp property is a picturesque 17-acre lake where campers can fish and canoe. Operation: Military Kids (OMK) understands our military youth are experiencing difficult times and situations with the deployment of a parent or parents. Camp OMK is free to all participants thanks to a generous donor.
Camp OMK, operated by and at North Carolina 4-H Centers, will focus on building coping skills and creating positive outlets for the intense emotions these children now live with daily. Critical to this experience is the camaraderie built among the campers as they meet other youth from across the state that are going through similar situations, but equally important is the opportunity to enjoy carefree camping experiences with their peers. While at camp, these children will have fun, laugh, learn and just enjoy being kids.
North Carolina’s 4-H Centers are fully accredited through the American Camp Association (ACA) and employ extensively trained summer staff members to insure a quality camping experience.
Information about Camp OMK 2009 and the registration form are available at the following web locations:
www.nc4h.org<http://www.nc4h.org> under the heading Military Programs, www.operationmilitarykids.org<http://www.operationmilitarykids.org> under the North Carolina Section http://www.millstone4hcamp.org/
Completed registration forms must be received to the North Carolina 4-H Youth Development Office by 5 PM on Wednesday, 17 June 2009. Notification will soon follow to those selected to attend Camp OMK 2009. Priority is given to military children with a parent deployed or deploying anytime between May 2008 and November 2009. Once selected, a packet of information will be mailed to you with additional forms to complete, times of arrival and departure, items to pack, directions, and etc.
Lauren N. Irby
Extension Agent, 4-H Youth Development
Chatham County Center
N.C. Cooperative Extension
919.542-8202