Operation Military Kids

For the past two summers I've had the privilege of working as a camp counselor for Operation Military Kids.
O.M.K is a support program for kids who's parents are in the military. O.M.K works with all branches of the military and host several camps over the year. These camps help the kids meet others going through the same situations, helping them connect with one another as well as teaching them valuable skills such as teamwork.

Metro Camp: This camp is held in September in Little Rock, Ar.
We rented a bus and took the kids on a 3 day adventure of downtown Little Rock.
The kids started their adventure at the Old State House Museum and from there took a GPS scavenger hunt to the River Walk where we ate lunch and toured the Game and Fish Commission Museum.
We took them to tour the Military Museum where they participated in another scavenger hunt set up by the Museum. Once they had finished there we walked over to the Children's Theatre and saw a play. We also went over to the Big Dam Bridge where a park ranger walked us halfway across and told us all about how the Dam was built and how dam's work.
One night we took them to Playtime Pizza where each kid got a card with tokens to play games.
 The last day we all got up and went to Hike Mount Pinnacle. It was a lot of work but I think the kids really enjoyed it. 
Each night we returned to camp and had a campfire program, the kids made smores and watched as the counselors preformed skits.
This is a great camp full of fun Activities and lots of group bonding! Recently they have started a similar camp in the Fort Smith area.

Movie and Art's Camp:  This camp is less of a run around and play type camp and more of a working to achieve a goal camp.
In Movie and Art's Camp we divide the camp into three groups. Documentary Movie, Creative Writing, and Quilting. 
Documentary Movie Group: This group spent the camp learning all about Documentary Film making and how to make one. During the 5 day camp they put together and create their own documentary film about OMK, Under the guidance of  directors and producers of the Sundance film festival.

Creative Writing Group: This group learns what creative writing is and over the camp does writing exercises that they will use at the end to write their story of what its like to be a military kid. This past year we were fortunate to have the Producer of Tales From The South a radio program on NPR. One of the days she brought out the radio recording supplys and had several of us read our stories for her show!

Quilting Group: This group used the art of quilting to tell their story of being a military kid by making story quilts.

At the end of camp we had a Red Carpet Event. Where the parents where invited to see what their kids had done over the course of the camp. The writing group made books that were handed out to each person. this book contained the stories and poems they had written.
The story quilts created byt the quilting group were displayed on stage for all to see.
and the documentary that the kids had made had its premier showing.
I was in also in charge of making a slideshow, just some fun pictures of the kids participating in the camp. this too was shown at our red carpet event.

Although this camp take a lot of focus and hard work from the kids they learn so many skills and get to take breaks from the workshops with a recreation time that includes Swimming, Canoeing, Basketball, and Board Games.
Also at night we have a campfire program where each night skits are preformed not only by the counselors but the kids as well! we have Fun time, when the kids can relax and enjoy themselves before bed where we served ice cream sundaes one night and popcorn the next. the kids could eat and play boardgames, wii play and other games they had learned during camp.

The Documentary that the kids made can be seen on youtube. I tried to post the link but my computer isn't letting me. the video is titled operation military arts & film camp 2010

If you or someone you know is in the military and has children please let them know about this program and these camps. If your not in Arkansas don't worry OMK is a national program you can find one in your area!

Happy Veterans Day!