Camp Corral: Military Veteran Children

What do military and veteran children want us to know?

Camp Corral supports kids by listening to them first

National nonprofit, Camp Corral, serves the families of our nation’s military heroes by starting with their children. Since its inception in 2011, Camp Corral has recognized the very real hardships that go along with serving as a military-connected child, especially one who has experienced the trauma of having a parent who is wounded, ill or fallen because of their military service.

As part of its vision to empower these children to live their best lives, Camp Corral develops and delivers specialized programming designed to meet their unique needs. Nearly 35,000 children from every state in the nation have participated in Camp Corral’s weeklong summer camps — all at no cost to their families.

In addition to camps designed to offer respite, build peer-support networks, strengthen self-confidence and reinforce coping skills, Camp Corral plays an active role in advocating for military-connected children, particularly among non-military individuals who may not understand what it means to have a parent serving our nation. This past year, the nonprofit joined DAV (Disabled American Veterans) and PsychArmor Institute to share responses from more than 2,000 militaryconnected children and make their voices heard in an educational video titled “15 Things Military and Veterans’ Kids Want You to Know,” which can be viewed at www.campcorral.org/resources and used as an educational resource.

Highlights from the educational resource include the fact that military kids cope with stress in unique ways and process their feelings differently from other children. That stress can manifest as physical symptoms, such as a stomachache, which they may not want to share with others over worries of overburdening friends or family members.

Stress and worry may also be amplified by the fact that military children often step up to serve as caregivers. Camp Corral surveys indicate that more than 70% of children who participate in its programs take on caregiving duties in their household.

These kids may struggle to adapt as they care for a changed parent who returns from deployment with physical injury or mental trauma.

Yet throughout these struggles, military children remain proud of who they are and the service their parents give to this country. These kids serve in their own way, and communities owe them the same respect they give their parents.

It is in the spirit of honoring the sacrifice of these kids that Camp Corral hosts its annual week-long summer camp experiences, while also delivering holistic-focused programs that serve military families year-round. Such programs include virtual peer networks, which empower children to maintain the peer connections they make at camp throughout the rest of the year, and family camp retreats, which support the needs of the entire wounded warrior family.

The value of summer programs designed specifically for military children can be seen in the days, weeks and months after a child participates in camp.

One month after participating in a Camp Corral program, 60% of parents said they or their child were still in contact with friends they met at camp. Additionally, 70% of parents saw a positive impact on their child’s mental health after attending camp.

The improved mental health and strong peer networks children receive from camp can help set them on the path towards improved self-confidence and academic performance.

To maximize the reach of these resources, Camp Corral hosts programs throughout the country with new week-long camps and family retreats added every year. A full list of camp dates and locations are available on the Camp Corral website along with an application portal for families to apply for future camp openings.

Most importantly, each of these programs are available to children and their families at no cost to them. This is made possible by the generous support of businesses, community leaders and individuals who offer donations to Camp Corral.

For more information on Camp Corral programs, including opportunities to participate or support future camps, visit www.campcorral.org.