Published: August 13, 2009.

Operation Military Kids, the new program dubbed OMK that helps military families and is based at 4-H Club state headquarters at Peckham Farm, has had quite a busy summer thus far with more activities in the offing.

The summer activities got started in June with the RI Air National Guard Air Show at Quonset where program volunteers and the RI National Guard Youth Council manned two food vending booths to raise funds for the Hero Pack Program. The participants wore T-shirts that listed URI and the College of the Environment and Life Sciences as partners—the state 4-H program falls under the outreach operations of CELS.

The Hero Pack Program is an on-going project of 4-H Clubs around the state where youngsters collect and assemble packs of toys, educational supplies and communication materials to be given to children of military personnel when they are deployed overseas. The packs are designed to help the children cope with the temporary absence of a parent.

This was the first time the OMK project had a presence at the air show.

A youth group from Wisconsin’s 4-H program sent a service learning group to New England in July and one of the stops they made was at Peckham where they assembled more hero packs. They stayed in one of the URI dormitories.

On July 13-14 OMK hosted 30 educators at URI and briefed them on issues affecting children in military families. OMK is also in a partnership with the Newport Navy Base to start a 4-H club there.

In addition, 4-H science educators have been making weekly trips to the base to offer science education at the Navy base’s youth camp.

The biggest event of the summer was the OMK Family Camp held at URI July 17-19 which attracted 65 participants. The youngsters and their parents stayed in URI dormitories and ate at Hope Dining.

Indoor activities were held at Swan Hall. On two afternoons, the youngsters could ice skate at the Boss Arena and they were given free tickets for the annual South County Balloon Festival that is held near the URI athletic complex. Other activities included rocketry, outdoor games, computer lab and team-building games.

On Sept. 13 OMK participants will take part in the Day of Honor at the Roger Williams Park Zoo as the Presenting Sponsor. The event is aimed at military families.

For 4-H Club members the biggest event will be the Easter States’ Exposition in Springfield, MA starting Sept. 18 where there will be several competitive events.