Editorial: Not your ordinary camp

Sunday, July 2, 2006 | 7:42 a.m.

Millions of Americans spend time each day thinking of the men and women who are serving in the military and fighting the war against terrorism. Thankfully, there are many who are also thinking of the spouses and children of the service members.

A tangible product of that thought is the National Military Family Association (www.nmfa.org), which offers a variety of support services. One of the services is a summer camping experience for children of deployed service members, including those members who are serving in the National Guard and Reserves.

The camps offer traditional activities such as horseback riding and swimming, but also offer counseling and discussions relating to the deployments of the children's parents. Many children endure anxiety about the safety of their deployed mom or dad, and the camps offer a chance to receive support from those who understand.

This summer about 2,500 children from around the country will attend a summer camp, including 50 from Southern Nevada who will attend Zion's Ponderosa Ranch in Utah July 10-15. Locally, the experience was arranged through the NMFA, Nevada Cooperative Extension and Nellis Air Force Base. Nationally, the NMFA's 26 camps are sponsored by the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation and TriWest Healthcare Alliance.

Having a parent in harm's way for a year and more is tough on any child. We hope that for as long as it takes for heroic parents to win the war on terror, this program can grow to accommodate even more children.