A news release about UC Cooperative Extension's involvement this year in "Operation: Military Kids" was picked up by the News Blaze, a northern California community newspaper. The story said UCCE's 4-H Youth Development program has teamed up with the Operation: Military Kids once again this summer to host camps throughout California for the children of military men and women deployed all over the world.
Operation: Military Kids was launched in April 2005. Since its inception, OMK has touched 88,000 military children. The summer camp is just one part of a support system for military youth. Camp participants are enrolled in 4-H and local 4-H clubs are encouraged to reach out to the military youth to get them involved in activities year round. For more on 4-H Operation: Military Kids, see the 2005 news release and the OMK Web site.
"As a token to some of our nation's most patriotic citizens -- the children of military members -- we want to offer camping opportunities that bring military kids with local youth from their communities together for a fun filled week of activities that will build leadership, coping and youth development skills," the story quotes Chanda Gonzales, the UCCE 4-H military liaison.
"We want to help military youth know that the 4-H Youth Development program and local community partners appreciate them," Gonzales said.