TEMPLE — Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service military programs have had a positive impact on thousands of military kids across the state this summer, said Brigid Mejia, the Texas Operation: Military Kids statewide program coordinator, Temple.
“This was a particularly busy summer for our AgriLife Extension personnel and programs focused on the military and particularly military kids,” Mejia said. “We had activities and events throughout the state, including Austin, Round Rock, El Paso, Brownwood, Temple and San Antonio.”
Mejia said AgriLife Extension military-related programs, which include Operation: Military Kids, Military 4-H and 4-H Tech Wizards, presented this summer were a means to thank military families, including the children of those families, who sacrifice so much in service to their country.
“We also design our programs and activities keeping in mind the changing lifestyle of military families and youth and collaborate with other military organizations to provide both fun and educational opportunities for military youth,” she said. “Our activities focus on the mainstays of the 4-H youth program, such as health, nutrition, sports, science, technology, public service, citizenship, leadership, character development and more.”
Military 4-H programs and activities presented this summer included:
June 4: Round Rock Express Baseball and Nutrition Camp, Round Rock
Texas Operation: Military Kids, Texas Military 4-H, National Guard Family Programs, the AgriLife Extension family and consumer science agent in Williamson County and Round Rock Express Baseball Organization collaborated on a day of hands-on learning, baseball activities and healthy lifestyle workshops for youth. More than 30 youth participated in activities with the Round Rock Express baseball team and coaches, including a question-and-answer session with the players, playing a baseball game on a professional baseball field and a stadium tour.
The camp also included a healthy eating and lifestyle program at the AgriLife Extension office in Williamson County. The evening concluded with a Military Appreciation night at the Round Rock Express Game, during which military kids went onto the field and were given a standing ovation from the more than 5,000 people in attendance.
For more information, contact: Brigid Mejia, 254-774-6022, blmejia@ag.tamu.edu.
June 18-21: Texas Navy Adventure Camp, Austin
AgriLife Extension and its Military 4-H Program were chosen to host an adventure camp sponsored by the U.S. Navy. The Texas Navy Adventure Camp was designed as a fun, experimental, learning environment that promoted leadership, self-confidence, resilience, and teamwork between the youth participants. Participants included 13 campers and two adult volunteers who traveled from Virginia Beach, Virginia and Monterey, Calif. for a week of fun and adventure.
Youth participated in a number of community service projects, outdoor activities, and educational experiences, including a career- and college-readiness day at the University of Texas, learning gun safety and archery from local 4-H youth, participating in a 4-H food challenge, talking about resiliency in military youth, and zip-lining through the Austin Hill Country. Other activities included 4-H youth helping build bikes to present to the children of wounded soldiers, making fleece blankets to give to wounded soldiers, and assembling backpacks of school supplies to be given to military youth.
For more information, contact: Brigid Mejia, 254-774-6022, blmejia@ag.tamu.edu.
June 21: Military Sports Fishing Camp, Round Rock
Ninety-four youth attended this hands-on fishing camp in which AgriLife Extension Military 4-H programs partnered with Georgetown Boy Scouts, city of Round Rock employees, Living Waters Fishing, HEB, WalMart, 4-H youth volunteers and Master Naturalists. Each participant went through a series of lessons, which included instruction on ecology, recycling, fire-starting, casting a fishing line and more. Participants were provided with a rod and reel, plus the knowledge needed to fish.
For more information, contact: Brigid Mejia, 254-774-6022, blmejia@ag.tamu.edu.
July 11-13: 1st Armored Deployment, El Paso
More than 2,000 people attendance this deployment fair and ceremony at Fort Bliss, El Paso, during which Operation: Military Kids provided more than 500 youth “huggables” (stuffed animals) as an expression of support and appreciation for their sacrifices.
For more information, contact: Cari Hutcheson, 915-860-2515, clhutcheson@ag.tamu.edu.
July 15-20: Camp Corral, Brownwood
More than 165 youth from throughout the U.S. attended the week-long Camp Corral, a free summer camp for the children of wounded or disabled military veterans. The camp was sponsored by Golden Corral and hosted at the Texas 4-H Conference Center at Lake Brownwood. Camp activities included target sports, water sports, arts and crafts activities, and social and personal development activities, as well as a “True Hero Day” dedicated to military appreciation.
For more information, contact: Jolie Durand, 254-774-6022, jadurand@ag.tamu.edu.
July 16-18: El Paso National Guard Camp, Fort Bliss
A total of 34 youth participated in this three-day camp designed to help them connect with other children of parents in the National Guard. The camp began with a trip to Adventure Zone for games and pizza, followed by an afternoon of technology provided by 4-H leaders. Participants were introduced to the scientific theory behind robotics and performed a hands-on robotics activity. Young people also navigated the Fort Bliss confidence course and had the opportunity to rappel off the training tower.
Activities focused on the value of teamwork and mutual support, and youth participants worked with soldiers for a safe and exciting experience. Participants also swam in the installation’s pool, received presentation on disaster preparedness from the American Red Cross, and heard about support and resources to military families through various programs.
For more information, contact: Cari Hutcheson, 915-860-2515, clhutcheson@ag.tamu.edu.
July 24: Military Science Day, Temple
AgriLife Extension and the Texas A&M AgriLife Blackland Research and Extension Center hosted their second annual Military 4-H Science Day.
Fort Hood Child Youth School Services brought 48 children and five staff members to the event, and city of Temple brought 29 children and four staff members. The day’s science-related events included a Static Electric Pepper Dance led by the Girl Scouts of Central Texas; Watts Up, a 4-H Tech Wizard project testing participants’ ability to brainstorm and create a working circuit using foil, a battery, and a small light bulb; Lego Robotics and EcoBots activity led by Williamson County 4-H members in which participants created Lego robots; and the Gak activity led by Jolie Durand, Operation: Military Kids program assistant for the Austin/Temple area, in which youth learned about polymerization and colloids.
Participants also created film canister rockets, wind turbines and learned about plant propagation, gardening basics and water quality testing.
For more information, contact: Brigid Mejia, 254-774-6022, blmejia@ag.tamu.edu.
August 8: Fort Hood Water Camp, Fort Hood
More than 60 people attended this camp at Fort Hood open to youth 8-18 years old. Educational programs were presented on the basics of the hydrological cycle, health dangers associated with poor water quality, water quality testing, dehydration and nutrition, and the effects of greenhouse gases, pollution and invasive aquatic species. There was also an activity in which participants created “edible aquifer” using ice cream, graham crackers, gummy bears, chocolate syrup and sprinkles, with different ingredients representing different layers of the aquifer and the syrup and sprinkles representing contaminants. Other activities included water bingo, Fish: Form Follows Function and a game of “Water Jeopardy” in which participants were asked questions about what they learned at camp.
For more information, contact Marti Mardis, 210-542-7279, marti.mardis@ag.tamu.edu.
August 10: Operation Jet – Lackland AFB, San Antonio
More than 150 Lackland Air Force youth participated in a mock deployment during which the kids went through a series of rotations from medical exams to PT exam. Operation: Military Kids provided the participating youth with various “huggable” stuffed animals and toys.
For more information, contact Christine Sandoval, 210-467-6575, Christine.Sandoval@ag.tamu.edu
August 23: Blankets of Love, Fischer House, San Antonio
Thirty-one fleece blankets made throughout the summer at the Texas Navy Adventure Camp and Camp Corral were given to the wounded soldiers residing at the Fischer House in San Antonio by Operation: Military Kids ambassadors.
For more information, contact: Brigid Mejia, 254-774-6022, blmejia@ag.tamu.edu.
EDITOR NOTE: For information on upcoming Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Military Program events, programs and activities throughout Texas, contact Mejia, 254-774-6022, blmejia@ag.tamu.edu.
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