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Ninety-six California children whose military parents have been called up for duty overseas gathered at a six-day summer camp in the Los Padres National Forest in June to have fun, make friends and learn to cope with their loved ones’ absences.

The children – from Santa Rosa down to San Diego – participated in Operation Purple Camp, organized and conducted by the University of California Cooperative Extension 4-H Youth Development Program. For the military, purple is a unifying color representing all branches of service.

The National Military Family Association funded Operation Purple Camp in 30 locations nationwide with a grant from Sears. The California camp was conducted by UC in tandem with a larger initiative, Operation: Military Kids, a national effort to support children of deployed National Guard and Army Reserve soldiers. This effort is funded by the U.S. Army in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Cooperative States Research, Education, and Extension Services.

“The children of National Guard and Reserve parents look the same to teachers, friends and the community after a parent deploys, but their lives have changed dramatically,” said Karen Varcoe, UC consumer education specialist based at UC Riverside and the director of the military outreach programs. “We want to help them connect with other youth in similar situations and to use the 4-H Youth Development program as a way to link up with other youth in the community.”

In a forested mountain environment, Operation Purple Camp participants enjoyed traditional activities like horseback riding, stargazing, swimming and s’mores around the campfire. But simmering worries surfaced at times, such as when a Marine pilot and an Army mechanic visited camp to answer their questions.

“Do you know my dad?” inquired one boy. “Have you ever seen someone get hurt?” asked another child. Many had heard terrifying stories from a parent about dinner-plate-sized camel spiders that scuttle swiftly over Middle East deserts. “Have you seen a camel spider’s fangs?” one asked.

Crafts were also geared to the campers’ specific needs. The first day, they decorated journals and were encouraged to record their feelings each night and collect their new friends’ phone numbers to establish a support system. The children made star-spangled red, white and blue “God Bless America” placards and bracelets with patriotic charms and beads. Each child personalized a pillow case for a loved one with their own picture and special message ironed on.

As the evenings wound down and the children settled into their sleeping bags, camp director Chanda Gonzales, coordinator of UC’s Operation Purple Camp and Operation: Military Kids 4-H programs, visited each cabin to start quiet conversations about coping.

“I’m trying to emphasize communication,” Gonzales said. “I encourage them to share their feelings with their families. The kids tell me that they want to help out more with household chores when they return home to show that they care. I let them know helping out at home is a fantastic way of showing that they care about their families, but I assure them that, a lot of times, mom and dad just want to know that you love them and that, if you’re sad, you’ll talk to them.”

Connecting with the children on an emotional level can be challenging, however. Gonzales also depends on the close relationships the children build with one another.

“They are being kids. They want to pull pranks and they don’t always want to talk about feelings,” Gonzales said. “But in my visits and around camp, I hear whispers about divorce or other concerns. Deployment is very difficult on families and marriages, and children are so aware of that.”

The new support system for the children doesn’t disappear after camp is over. By participating, each child was initiated into the California 4-H Youth Development Program. Their 4-H membership means they can establish a new community connection through 4-H when they return home.

The camp children and all California Reserve and National Guard children will be eligible for Operation: Military Kids, a separate effort also coordinated in California by 4-H that serves many of the same children as the Operation Purple Camp program. One of the goals is to reach as many of the Reserve and National Guard children in the state as possible. Neal Emper, a retired Air Force Colonel who has the military connections and experience to work in the military culture, was brought on board to support this outreach effort.

Local 4-H clubs will be enlisted to reach out personally to the military children with a letter and a special gift from Operation: Military Kids. They will deliver “Hero Packs,” backpacks that contain stationery to write a parent overseas, a disposable camera to record events at home, a stuffed animal for comfort, and information about programs that connect them with the community.

Before presenting the pack, the local 4-H members may also include items that are specific to their counties and tell about their local programs. The military children may not realize 4-H programs fit a wide variety of interests. 4-H has evolved from its rural origins, now combining the agricultural tradition with programs ranging from nutrition to earthquake safety. 4-H members tend gardens, learn computer skills, perfect digital photography techniques, explore fine art and participate in many additional projects.

“I’m going to encourage all military youth to be part of 4-H,” Gonzales said. “It doesn’t matter what branch of the service they’re from.”

The partnership between 4-H and the military is not new. 4-H programs are offered at every Army installation in the world and at many Air Force bases. During World War I, 4-H members were involved in increasing food production. During World War II, 4-H members planted Victory Gardens, sold war bonds and collected scrap iron. Today, the partnership is working to create a safety net for children of deployed troops and helps 4-H members learn what it means to shoulder responsibilities as citizens for a free society.

For more information or to participate in Operation: Military Kids, contact Karen Varcoe at Karen.varcoe@ucr.edu, Chanda Gonzales at chanda.gonzales@ucr.edu, or Neal Emper at neal.emper@ucr.edu or call (951) 827-5241. For more on the national Operation: Military Kids program, see http://www.usda-army-ydp.org/omk/general/overview.htm.