By Debbie Gregory.
Registration is now open for Camp Corral, a FREE, week long camp for children, ages 8-15, from military families,. The camp provides an atmosphere where military children can take a break from their stress and have fun, as well as bond with other children who share similar experiences.
Children of military families sacrifice much of their innocence for their parents’ service. They have a lot more added stresses that many of their peers don’t have to face. These kids experience the heartache and worry of having one or both parents deployed, often multiple times. It’s hard to imagine the enormity of the impact put on the children of service members. It must be especially difficult for children whose parent doesn’t come back… or who returns injured, missing a limb, suffering with a Traumatic Brain Injury, or battling PTSD. Many military kids don’t want to talk about their situations for fear that they will be misunderstood.
Camp Corral was created for that very purpose. Activities offered at Camp Corral include fishing, archery, obstacle courses, swimming, horseback riding, crafts and more. While having fun is the primary function, Camp Corral also provides military kids with an atmosphere that is conducive to gaining confidence, feeling in control, and building friendships and relationships.
Since its inception in 2011, Camp Corral has served over 4,000 children. The organization now has 20 camps in 16 different states. And while all military dependent children are welcome, Camp Corral hold registration priority for children of service members who were wounded, disabled or killed in action.
The dates of Camp Corral’s 2014 sessions will run from June 1st through August 16th. Camp Corral’s 20 locations can be found on their website. Approximately 2,800 children will go to Camp Corral’s summer camps this summer. Be sure to register your military child on Camp Corral’s online registration portal. Camp Corral is a 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt, non-profit corporation that functions solely on the donations made by individuals and organizations. A majority of the donations come from a fundraising campaign held by the Golden Corral restaurant chain. The CEO of Golden Corral, Mr. James Maynard, is also the founding sponsor of Camp Corral. Every April and May, Golden Corral restaurants collect donations from their dining guests, with 100% of the money going to Camp Corral. In 2013, Golden Corral raised approximately $1.5 million for the camp. If you would like to make a donation, you may do so here.