News

Dover AFB Youth Center Camps

Colin Phillips, son of Lt. Col. Michael Phillips, 436th Mission Support Group deputy commander, sews a "quillow" June 27, 2014, at the Youth Center on Dover Air Force Base, Del. Phillips, who is enrolled in the Operation Military Kids camp, made his quillow for a Hero Pack and will be given to a child of a deployed or soon to be deployed parent. (U.S. Air Force photo/Roland Balik)

Dover AFB Youth Center Camps

Jacob Franko, left, son of Staff Sgt. Peter Franko, 9th Airlift Squadron, and Pam Delort, right, 436th Force Support Squadron Youth Center school age program assistant, play ?Guess Who,? June 27, 2014, at the Youth Center on Dover Air Force Base, Del. Children are able to move around to different activity rooms that interest them. (U.S. Air Force photo/Roland Balik)

Dover AFB Youth Center Camps

Jordan Marsh, right, daughter of Master Sgts. Angeline and Christopher Marsh, both assigned to the 436th Logistics Readiness Squadron, and Wendy Jones, left, 436th Force Support Squadron Youth Center school age program assistant, color a dolphin and elephant respectively, June 27, 2014, at the Youth Center on Dover Air Force Base, Del. Children enrolled in the Summer Day Camp program are able to choose different activities they want to participate in each day. (U.S. Air Force photo/Roland Balik)

Are we having fun yet?

Published June 30, 2014
By Roland Balik
436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. -- Keeping children occupied during the summer months can be challenging for parents. The Summer Day Camp or the Operation Military Kids/4-H Camp at the Youth Center here is one option for parents to keep their children active.

Operation Military Kids/4-H camp is a funded statewide camp to support all children of military members throughout the state of Delaware at two different locations. The Youth Center recently hosted two camps for the Operation Military Kids/4-H Camp program, called the Life Skills camp, June 16-20 and the Camo camp, June 23-27.

"Children of deployed family members and wounded warriors have first priority on camp sign-up lists," said Roxanne Lee, 436th Force Support Squadron Youth Center director of youth programs. "All the camps are free."

The Summer Day Camp is scheduled to run now through August 22.

During the Summer Day camp, children can participate in arts and crafts, and different projects that support the Delaware State Fair, located in Harrington, Delaware, July 17-26. Children are eligible to receive money for projects that are sold at the fair.

"Last year, kids submitted around 1,500 projects," said Lee. "All kids received checks for their submitted projects."

In July, the Side Line sports program will be coming to the Youth Center. It is a fitness program consisting of ultimate Frisbee, badminton, lacrosse and other sports-related activities. This program is free to military dependents ages 5-18.

During August 4-8, there will be a camp for children interested in becoming thespians.

This year's production will be "Blackbeard the Pirate." All kids that participate will be in the production and under the guidance of theater instructors. Lee said about 75 kids participated in the last year's production.

The youth center also has a robust 4-H program.

Photography will be offered on Mondays to children of all ages. On Tuesdays, kids can build Lego robotics and put together a Lego movie to be released by the end of the summer.

"Our goal is to basically get programs that kind of fit the whole child," said Lee. "We like to get programs that incorporated everybody, enrich their mind, body and soul which is a goal of the Air Force."

For more information and dates on programs offered at the Dover AFB Youth Center, call 677-6376, or go to http://www.doverafb436fss.com, and 'like' them on Facebook at Dover AFB Youth Center.