Navy's Largest DEFY Chapter Holds Annual Summer Camp

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Charles White, Navy Region Southeast Reserve Component Command Public Affairs

MICANOPY, Fla. (NNS) -- Seventy-four children from Navy and DoD families attended the Drug Education for Youth (DEFY) summer camp at Camp McConnell outside of Gainesville, Fla., Aug. 8-13.

The children represent the Jacksonville, Fla.-area military complex and the largest U.S. Navy DEFY program in the world, said DEFY Operations Officer David Vanneste, who was conducting a site visit.

Started in 1993, the DEFY program is in its 17th year of providing mentorship, character development, drug education and essential life skills to military kids. The Naval Air Station (NAS) Jacksonville program, which began in 1996, offers a learning and activity intensive five-day overnight camping experience, which was held this year at Camp McConnell, a YMCA campground.

In addition to classroom learning and arts and crafts, attendees were able to participate in swimming, archery, horseback riding, rock climbing, field and court sports and a high ropes course.

"Every activity that we did had a life lesson to impart upon the kids," said DEFY Mentor Information Systems Technician 2nd Class Derek Saylor, of Navy Region Southeast Reserve Component Command. "The horses were a real self confidence boost, the archery built patience...and the rock wall and the high ropes taught them goal setting and persistence."

NAS Jacksonville's DEFY Program Coordinator, Chief Aviation Electrician's Mate Shawn Diggs thought his first year heading the program went very well.

"I think this [DEFY] is a beautiful program, it's a really educational program for the youths here," said Diggs.

Diggs noted how impressed he was with the knowledge and tools learned by the children as it pertained to resisting peer pressure and avoiding destructive behaviors, but he most enjoyed watching the kids "come as strangers and leave as friends."

Making the largest DEFY summer camp run smoothly requires an organized, high energy and equally large volunteer effort. Twenty-four mentors, who are usually military or DoD civilian volunteers, and 11 junior mentors were placed with groups of kids whom they remained with throughout the camp.

Alan Lefan, NAS Jacksonville DEFY mentor coordinator, now in his fifth year of participation, is proud of the volunteer's ability to "change kids' lives," including that of his daughter who attended camp for the first time this year.

"She can't wait to come back," said Lefan. "And I will be here as long as they'll have me."

Kuria Spindler, NAS Jacksonville DEFY junior mentor coordinator, feels her upbringing has left her ideally suited for the program.

"I was a military child, so I do know what they have to deal with. The fact that they move around, and have to make new friends and deal with the peer pressure," said Spindler.

Each DEFY chapter is managed by a host command. Patrol Squadron (VP) 30 hosts the NAS Jacksonville chapter, which is also their home base and they will continue to host DEFY events throughout the year and leading up to the annual summer camp in August 2011.