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| News & Information of Interest to the Youth-Service Community | ||||
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Camp Deer Run Receives Congressional Recognition for Community Service
The Congressional certificate was awarded primarily in recognition of Camp Deer Run’s participation in, and contribution to, the National Military Family Association’s “Operation Purple” summer camp program for children of U.S. military families that had a parent who either was at the time, had previously been, or was scheduled to be, deployed overseas to combat zones. Military service today is particularly difficult for the children of parents serving away from home, because of the frequent, and very visible, media accounts of battle casualties, and the resulting awareness that there is the possibility that a parent may never come home. Last summer Camp Deer Run conducted two separate Operation Purple camp sessions, a two-week program for teenagers, and one-week for children aged 9 to 11 years old. The teenagers, especially, were aware of the possible consequences of parental deployment, with expected, resulting psychological difficulties. Nevertheless, Operation Purple at Camp Deer Run gave campers the opportunity to see that they are not alone and to bond with one another in mutual support. |
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After and during Operation Purple we received many e-mails from both campers and parents acknowledging their appreciation of the benefits of Operation Purple at Camp Deer Run. A few of these testimonies are as follows: PARENTS Sherri - “ Chelsea really enjoyed the camp and wants to thank all of you for your time and dedication to providing a safe, fun, adventure. She says she really had an awesome time and has made many new connections. Chelsea would love to be a junior counselor next year.” Nannette - “I really want to thank you and everyone at the camp for a great camp and for taking the time to have these children there. All of you are making a big difference in their lives.” Keesha - “Brillion misses camp, and talks about it almost daily. I'm glad she has positive memories...they will have to carry her through until next summer!” Dacia - “Thanks again for the wonderful experience you and the staff gave Courtney! It gave her a boost and a nice feeling that she is not in this "thing" alone!” Kory - “I still smile at the excited look on the girls’ faces when they were introducing me to their new friends from the camp and telling me all about the adventures they participated in.” Winston - “We, my wife & I, want to say thank you, but there are not enough words to express how grateful we are for the way you treated our daughter, Tiffany. She was thrilled to have had participated in your Summer Camp program and met all her new friends.” CAMPERS Sara - “I don’t know if you remember who I am but I wanted to tell you that I had a wonderful time at camp deer run! I will never be the same person I was before the camp. I have welcomed so many new memories and friends into my life! About Junior counseling, would I be able to do it next year even though I would only be 15? ” Michael - “Hi, it's Michael!!!! I'm having a lot of fun. Still I miss you guys a lot. If you would can you tell all the staff I said hi. . . . with love and memories, Michael” Nick - “I am doing good since camp. Ever since I got back home I have been a different person and better than I was before.” Justin - “I had a very good time at camp. It was only a week but it was too good to forget. Thank you for one of the best weeks of my life. I feel better about a lot now. I can't wait to tell my dad. My mom let me stay up late so I could e mail you. CONTACT: Camp Deer Run
450 Walker Valley Road - Pine Bush, NY 12566
TEL: (845) 733-5494 - E-Mail: info@campdeerrun.org
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