Children of deployed members attend Sea Camp

Shante and Austin English get acquainted with pencil urchins in the touch tank. Shante, 11, and Austin, 12, are the children of Tech. Sgt. Michael and Ella English, 81st Engineering Installation Squadron. Sergeant English deploys to Afghanistan next month. (U.S. Air Force photo by Kemberly Groue)

Children of deployed members attend Sea Camp

Eleven-year-olds Rowan McConville, left, and Tyler Higgins learn about the Mississippi diamondback terrapin turtle from Sea Camp director Michael Carley. Rowan’s parents are Lt. Col. Abbie Luck, 81st Medical Operations Squadron, and Marine Corps retiree Stephen Dubois. Her mother is deployed to Iraq. Tyler’s parents are Frank and Patricia Higgins of Gautier. (U.S. Air Force photo by Kemberly Groue)

Children of deployedmembers attend Sea Camp

Published July 22, 2009
By Kimberly Moore Limrick
81st Training Wing Public Affairs

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- The University of Southern Mississippi's Gulf Coast Research Laboratory provideded eight scholarships to children of deployed military members to attend Project Marine Discovery Sea Camp 2009 for free, July 13-17.

Master Sgt. Jessica Woodruff, family readiness progam coordinator at the airman and family readiness center, coordinated a contest where children submitted either a one paragraph essay on "What deployment means to me" or drew a picture of their military family to compete for the eight scholarships.

The camp normally cost between $210 and $275. Prices include camp T-shirt, individual and group photos, all instructional costs and materials, admission fees, field trips and art supplies. But for eight Keesler members, the five-day camp was free.
The popular marine science day camp for ages 6 to13 was held at GCRL's J.L. Scott Marine Education Center in Ocean Springs.

"This marks our 22nd year," said Michael Carley, Sea Camp director. "Participants experienced coastal habitats through hands-on learning activities with live animals."
Field trips took campers into beach and salt marsh habitats, and all campers visited Deer Island aboard the R/V Sea Explorer, he said.

"I went with the kids on the first day of camp;" Sergeant Woodruff said. "We took a boat trip to Deer Island and the children were all very involved and enjoyed the experience.

"Being a parent myself and also having a husband who is deployed, I know how important it is to keep yourself and your kids busy while a loved one is away," Sergeant Woodruff continued. "If you always have something to do, it takes your mind off the member being gone and also makes the time go by quicker. Also, as a parent I know when your partner is away, sometimes we need a little break too, so this helped both the children and their parents."

"I have met a lot of families since I started this job two years ago," she continued. "My
favorite part is being able to say that a spouse was not left alone during this stressful time. It is important to keep the military family together. By doing so you not only help the Air Force retain people but you create a relationship to the many people you will meet throughout your career. I love being able to hold events and see the kids really enjoy being part of a big family."

For more information about GCRL and Sea Camp, log on to http://www. usm.edu/gcrl.

For more information about airman and family readiness programs, call 376-8500.