The Extension Express - Cooperative Extension System - University ...

12 The Extension Express
New London County Extension Center
Working with UConn Students
Connecticut Operation: Military Kids has had the pleasure of working with UConn students
this academic year on service learning projects. On November 16, 2011, thirty five Residence
Assistants (RA‘s) from North Campus dorms filled one hundred Hero Packs for the children of
deployed service members. North Campus dorms include New Haven, Fairfield, Litchfield,
Tolland, Baldwin, McConaughy, Hurley, Middlesex, Windham, New London, and Hartford. In
April 2011, CT OMK worked with the Silver Wings service club to fill Hero Packs and wrote
notes of support for military kids.
Connecticut Operation: Military Kids Camp Programs
In February 2011, Connecticut Operation: Military Kids received a grant to offer free camp
programs to military kids around the state. Working in conjunction with Connecticut 4-H camp
leaders and our military partners, we planned three different types of camp programs:
Special Forces Teen Weekend Camp, March 6-8, 2011
We invited youth aged 14-18 years old from military and non-military families for a weekend
of fun and learning at the Windham County 4-H Outdoor Learning Center on Pomfret. We
offered team building activities and taught problem solving skills. The participating youth also
worked together to create a Speak Out for Military Kids video on how best to support military
kids experiencing deployment. The camp staff members for this program were Marc
Cournoyer, 4-H Program Coordinator/State 4-H Camp Coordinator, Windham County and J.
Logee, Camp Director of the Windham County 4-H Outdoor Learning Center; Victoria Scully-
Oakes, Child & Youth Behavioral Military Family Life Consultant; Michelle McCarty,
National Guard State Youth Coordinator; Mary Ellen Welch, Co-Project Director for
Connecticut Operation: Military Kids; Lisa Marcinkowski, Program Coordinator for
Connecticut Operation: Military Kids; and Cassie Towers, Connecticut Operation: Military
Kids Volunteer.
Family Fun Boot Camp, June 18, 2011
Military families with kids of all ages were invited to a day of fun activities and demonstrations
at Warren Woods Town Park at 255 Brick School Road in Warren, CT. The activities included
a geocaching scavenger hunt, petting and riding horses from the Governor‘s Horse Guard
militia, and having family portraits taken. The camp staff members were Laura Marek and
Mary Ellen Welch, Co-Project Directors for Connecticut Operation: Military Kids; Sean
Crombez, Mobile Technology Lab Coordinator for Connecticut Operation: Military Kids;
Victoria Scully-Oakes, Child & Youth Behavioral Military Family Life Consultant; and
Michelle McCarty, National Guard State Youth Coordinator.