Military children find fun, share their fears at camp

Sunday, August 20, 2006 KELLEYS ISLAND, Ohio (AP) — Red, white and blue streamers and 'I love USA' stickers hung from the rafters last week in the cabins at the 4-H camp on this Lake Erie island as it provided a getaway for 120 campers who have a parent who's been deployed or is facing deployment with the National Guard or reserves. The five-day "Operation: Military Kids" camp strives to provide a sanctuary where children whose parents are in the military can share their feelings or escape from their worries for a while. Typical camp activities — such as hiking, swimming and crafts — are combined with discussion sessions and time for writing journal entries. Some of the children, ages 9 to 14, have a more difficult time adjusting to their parents' absence because they don't live on military bases and become "suddenly military" when their parents are deployed, Ohio National Guard youth coordinator Sue Ann Carroll said. Whereas the children sometimes have a difficult time finding a friend or classmate that understands, the camp's participants feel an instant sense of camaraderie, counselors said. "They act like they've known each other for years," said counselor-in-training Heather Seurkamp, adding that she could relate to the kids because her father spent a year in Kosovo. Sending a message Seurkamp, 15, said she encourages the campers to think of their parents as heroes and to ignore others who try to worry them with stories about how their parents could be hurt or killed overseas. Aside from the volunteer staff, two mental health counselors are on hand if the kids want to talk about their fears or concerns. This is the second time the National Guard and 4-H have hosted the camp. The response to the first trip was so positive that officials decided to lengthen this year's camp from two days to five. They're considering holding two camps next year, one at Kelleys Island and another at a more centrally located spot so more kids can participate. Participants in the camp pay a $35 fee to attend. The rest of the $225 cost is provided by sponsoring organizations and companies. Campers returned home Saturday and Carroll said she's confident they're better prepared to handle the stress of their parents' deployments. "We have found that these kids are very, very resilient," she said. "We tell them, 'If you get through this, you'll be able to tackle anything."