Camps offered to families of deployed troops

Camps offered to families of deployed troops

By Karen Jowers - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Sep 3, 2009 20:50:53 EDT

Service members and their families who have experienced deployments within the last 15 months are eligible to attend a free four-day camp at one of four national park locations, sponsored by the National Military Family Association.

In addition, families who attend these Operation Purple Family Retreats will receive a $200 stipend per family when they arrive at the retreat site to cover the cost of travel.

Families will be paired with specialized field science educators who will guide them through activities like nature hikes, canoeing, beach exploration, and arts and crafts. In addition, FOCUS (Families OverComing Under Stress), a program designed to help military families build resiliency to face the challenges of multiple deployments, will provide activities to help the families strengthen their relationships, according to the NMFA.

Eligible are service members from the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Coast Guard — active duty, National Guard or reserve — as well as families of the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
read more here
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/09/military_familycamps_090309w/