4-H, military to host camp for children of fallen soldiers
October 10, 2014
Fast facts
- ‘Hearts of our Heroes Camp’ on Saturday for children of fallen military personnel
- Camp offered at the C.A. Vines 4-H Center in Ferndale
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Youths ages 11 to 17 who have lost family members during military service will be part of a special “Hearts of Our Heroes Camp” Saturday and Sunday presented by Arkansas 4-H and Survivor Outreach Services, an agency of the U.S. Army.
The activities will be held at the C.A. Vines Arkansas 4-H Center in Ferndale, 10 miles west of Little Rock.
The youths are from across the state, said Creenna Bocksnick, 4-H camping coordinator. They were selected in coordination with Survivor Outreach Services. Youths selected for the program are not restricted to those who lost relatives to battle casualties but also includes those who may have lost a close relative in other ways while on active duty.
The Sunday sessions will include active duty military personnel who will participate in the activities with the youths throughout the day. “They are there as mentors to give back to the kids their connection with the military if they've lost a family member,” Bocksnick said.
The weekend’s activities include hiking, reptile care, astronomy instruction, archery, canoeing and bottle rocketry.
Bocksnick said 4-H and the military have previously coordinated camps to provide activities for children from families of active duty military personnel.
Survivor Outreach Services is the official Army program designed to provide long-term support to surviving families of fallen soldiers,
More information is available from Bocksnick for 4-H at 501-821-6884 or cbocksnick@uada.edu or from Andrea Fisher of Survivor Outreach Services at 501-212-4122 or andrea.b.fisher5.ctr@mail.mil.
The Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service is an equal opportunity/equal access/affirmative action institution. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate or need materials in another format, please contact your County Extension office (or other appropriate office) as soon as possible. Dial 711 for Arkansas Relay.
The Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
By Dave Edmark
Division of Agriculture Communications
479-575-6940 / dedmark@uark.edu
Media Contact: Mary Hightower
Dir. of Communication Services
U of A Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
(501) 671-2126
mhightower@uada.edu
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