Operation Purple Summer Camp Serves the Military Child

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Scott Dagendesh, Navy Public Affairs Support Element Detachment Northwest

SILVERDALE, Wash. (NNS) -- More than 150 children of military families around the Pacific Northwest attended "Operation Purple Camp," a free summer camp at Island Lake, in Silverdale, Wash. Aug. 9-13.

According to Lt. Jg. Paul Morris of Naval Base Kitsap's Legal Service Office, Operation Purple Camp helps provide military children of deployed service members with tools to deal with their parent's deployment in a unique setting.

"Operation Purple, a one-week program, is funded by the National Military Family Association (NMFA) whose goal is to help military children experience a carefree environment and forge friendships with other military children while learning how to cope with the stress related to having a deployed parent," said Morris.

According to Angela Melton, Operation Purple Camp co-director, the goals of Operation Purple is to give the youth an opportunity to interact with others who are going through the same situation.

"We have youth from all different branches of the military come together so they can see they are not the only one with deployed parent…it's to reach out to the military youth to let them know they are not alone, and so a lot of them come back year after year."

"I think it's really fun and a great program for kids," said Kristen Colon, a camp attendee. "It really helps out a lot to keep us preoccupied from the stress of deployed parents by doing all these fun activities and talking about how each one is feeling. I've met a lot of new friends out here, and we support one another."

The program provides day-to-day team building exercises ranging from paint ball to going on a row boat, swimming and riding small motor bikes.

"I really like the camp," said Erin Nissen, camp attendee. "My most memorable experience here has been meeting other people and having fun with them. I heard about this last year from an ad telling me about this camp, and my mom signed me up. And my friend signed up with me."

"This is my second year," said camp attendee, Jason Lovett. "A couple friends told me about it - that I should check it out, and it has been a lot of fun."

"I think it is important for children to have something like this because it helps get their mind off having a deployed military parent. The younger ones don't understand it as much, but the older ones are able to build that camaraderie," said Lovett.

For more information about Operation Purple Camp, visit the National Military Family Association at www.nmfa.org.