Page 54 - Best Chapter Spring 2017

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with a SEAL Team come to the island.The SEAL in the Armed Forces. And the camp organizers
Team will lead the campers through activities such handle some interesting military-only touches,

as an age-appropriate military-like obstacle course too—such as coordinating with the locals of the

and boat rides on the lake. They may also have a island to communicate that military demonstrations,
working dog do a mock rescue and demonstrate including the incoming SEAL Team and helicopter
other specialized skills. The team always debriefs the landing, will be taking place so as to not incite panic.
children afterward to make sure they understand all The USO and 4-H also partner with the residents to
of the activities they participated in and what lessons involve the campers in a volunteer project each year
they learned from it. to give back to the island, which has welcomed them

during the summer for 13 years.

“It’s really important to us that the campers feel

like average children, because they are,” Ferrari said. “At the end of the day, we want the campers to have
“This is not a military camp, and it’s not intended fun, and we want them to know that their moms

to simulate military life. In fact, we want them to and dads are doing a great service for our country,”
forget about some of those things for a while and Ferrari said. “We want to show them a small peek
feel ‘normal’.” into the world that they don’t experience first-hand,

but that they think of often because their parent is

The fun and games of the Island help the children there. We want them to know their parents’ service is
escape from the demands of their everyday life, appreciated and that we recognize the sacrifices they
at least for a week. But the children also get the make as part of a military family.”

privilege of seeing things that non-military children

will never experience, like watching a helicopter The camp costs about $100,000 to operate each year.
land on the field in front of you or shaking hands Families pay a small registration fee of around $75
with some of the highest ranking military members for their child to participate, which is waived in cases
,-,4 BEST CI IAPTER