Children from military families often walk a tightrope between maintaining a normal life and dealing with the emotional pressures associated with having a parent deployed in Iraq or Afghanistan. This summer, more than 200 North Carolina military kids got a break from that daily stress through three camps designed for kids like themselves.

At Operation Military Kids, held at Millstone 4-H Camp in Ellerbe, kids participated in activities like the high-ropes, horseback riding, arts and crafts, archery, canoeing and swimming. They also produced pocket-sized photo albums so their parents could see what they did in camp.

“A lot of them are experiencing some really tough times emotionally. This week is just a really good way for them to be a kid and be with other kids who are experiencing the same things they are,” said Kayla Davis, Millstone’s summer program director, who noted the sponsorship of Camp OMK by racing legend and 4-H alumnus Rick Hendrick and his wife, Linda.

Two other camp opportunities for military kids were conducted in August, at the Eastern 4-H Environmental Center in Columbia and Swannanoa 4-H Center near Asheville. These Operation Purple Camps were funded through a grant from the National Military Family Association and were specifically designed to support children of deployed soldiers.

Operation Military Kids is a national initiative funded primarily by the Department of the Army through the U.S. Department of Agriculture to provide resources and support for military families and children. North Carolina’s Operation Military Kids program, operated through the state’s 4-H youth development program, has served military families since 2002. 4-H is North Carolina Cooperative Extension’s youth development program.

— Natalie Hampton