DEFY Camp empowers Team Dover children

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Nicole Langley
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  From lessons on drug prevention and healthy living to C-5 and Humvee tours, the 21 children from the Dover Air Force Base community, who participated in this year's Drug Education for Youth camp, were treated to a wide variety of activities this week. 

Open to all DoD dependents, the summer leadership camp, which began Monday, and runs through this afternoon, is aimed at developing young participants in many ways - from improving their knowledge of drug information and drug refusal skills, improving self-esteem and confidence, improving social and self-management skills, and instilling healthy living habits through physical fitness training and challenges. 

Research shows at age 12, children are past the point of prevention, said camp coordinator 1st Lt. Katey Foard, 436th Logistics Readiness Squadron, so this program is aimed at youth between the ages of nine and 12. 

Throughout the week, the children had a full schedule as they participated in numerous activities, including a drug dog demonstration, presentation on drug prevention by the Dover Office of Special Investigation, tour of Humvees complete with night vision goggles, trip to the fire department, parents' night, movie night, team challenge and two Presidential Fitness Challenges. 

The children not only participated in a variety of fun field trips and activities, but also had sessions in the classroom, as mentors taught 23 lessons on drug prevention, social skills, leadership and healthy living. 

DEFY is a Department of Defense program created by the Department of Navy in 1993 for children, in response to high rates of substance abuse among young people. The program is in its fourth year here at Dover. 

A year-long program, DEFY consists of two phases. Phase I is the summer leadership camp, which was held here this week, and Phase II is a mentoring program that is conducted during the school year. 

The mentors in the program are members of Team Dover, many of which are active-duty personnel. 

During Phase II, the entire group meets one Saturday a month, and the mentors stay involved in the lives of the children in their mentorship groups on a regular basis - from checking in on school work and grades, to phone calls and activities. 

1st Lt. Leathon Magee, 436th LRS, is a second-year mentor, and explained that although he has a busy schedule since he is working his normal job in the mornings and mentoring at the camp in the afternoons, he would do it again next year.
"I like kids ... I wanted to do my part to help out," said the lieutenant. 

Lieutenant Foard explained that this program is especially beneficial for children of working parents or children with parents deployed because parents can be reassured that someone is staying involved in their children's lives throughout the year.
While the program is aimed at making a difference in the lives of the children, it's obvious that it is also beneficial to the mentors, who are able to see the difference that they are making in Team Dover's younger generation. 

"I wanted to make an impact on these kids while they are still at an impressionable age," explained first-year mentor 2nd Lt. Dan Hampton, 436th Aerial Port Squadron, on why he decided to join the program. 

Another aspect of the program that parents can appreciate is the entire program is free. 

"Parents are shocked that the whole program is free ... everything is paid for," said Lieutenant Foard. 

As a DoD program, all activities, meals, t-shirts and other accessories are provided at no cost to the children involved. 

Garzell Hall, 10, is just one of the children benefiting from the program.
"We get to do a lot of cool things. I like that we get to sleep in tents," Hall said, when recounting his favorite parts of the camp. 

More importantly, Hall and the other children have been provided skills that they can use long after Phase I is over. 

"Better listening to instructions and not doing drugs," is what the young boy explained are the skills he will most likely take with him and use after the camp ends. 

Although the summer camp draws to a close this afternoon, Team Dover can be assured at least 21 children in the base community have been equipped with numerous skills to help them lead healthy and successful lives, and that their learning, growing and time spent being mentored by some of Dover's finest is not coming to an end, but instead is just beginning.