Pioneer Camp and Retreat Center, Inc

TAKE A BREAK SUMMER CAMP FOR MILITARY YOUTH

TAB Military families serve our country with pride, honor, and quiet dedication. Throughout New York State, deployments have occurred in significant numbers. Currently there are 1,900 children of area reservists and guardsmen who are impacted by deployment and more deployments are planned for summer, fall and beyond. Deployments impact families in momentous ways. Pioneer Camp and Retreat Center recognizes how difficult it is for military families who are separated because of the reality of deployment. Pioneer desires to serve military families in real ways that help to strengthen family bonds.    Running
     To serve children of local military families, Pioneer is planning Take A Break Summer Camp, August 8 - 13, 2010 under our Take A Break Military Program umbrella. This program will specifically target children whose parent(s) are, have been, or will be deployed within a 18 month window.
     The summer camp program will bring youth together who talk the same language and have an experiential background they hold in common which helps them through the stresses and challenges of deployment. Caring college students mentor, listen, and lead the children through team building, recreation and fun providing a much needed break from the realities surrounding these children daily. The overall emphasis is that “kids serve too”. This emphasis allows campers to come away from camp with a strong sense of their personal worth and value. This is very much needed in the Western New York area to support the families and children of guardsmen, reservists and active military.

How to apply/register:
Please download the application HERE Complete the form, mail it in with the Hold My Spot Fee, and send it to:
Attn: Registrations
Pioneer Camp and Retreat Center
9324 Lake Shore Road
Angola, NY   14006

For additional information about attending the program, sponsoring a child to attend Take A Break summer camp, or volunteering for Take A Break events, please contact Pioneer at info@pioneercamp.org; or (716) 549-1420.

Take A Break Opportunities for Military Families:
Opportunities will be available this summer at Pioneer Camp for military families of all shapes and sizes to "Take a Break" for a weekend and spend time with your family at our Lake Erie waterfront facility. Family-friendly housing, delicious meals, family activities and free-time options will be provided. Full and partial scholarships are available. Brochure
Weekends Available: August 20-22nd and August 27th-29th, 2010

More information about Take A Break Programs and Events

The Take A Break Military Program umbrella is a collaboration between
Pioneer, Operation Enduring Comfort ™, local groups and national agencies in our desire to form complimentary civilian
-based resources to be part of a
spectrum serving the needs of our
community members who serve in the military. Together we provide Take A Break programs and events for military children and families. These efforts can
take the form of one-day events,
weekend retreats, summer camp, week -long programs and more. It is our hope that by hosting Take A Break programs and events, we would be able to provide a place of respite, retreat, and renewal for military children and their families and hopefully encourage and inspire our community members to find ways to become actively involved in serving military families who serve us with tireless dedication.

Additional Take A Break Events are sponsored by Operation Enduring Comfort™.
Events to give your whole family an opportunity to unwind among military families from all branches of service are offered. Operation Enduring Comfort ™ considers it a privilege to host events for local military families and their supporters, providing a relaxing environment for adults and children. These events will vary, but usually
include refreshments, deployment-related crafts, gym activities, and the built-in support of other local military families! Call St. Peter’s Lutheran Church Office, Lockport, NY at (716)433-9014 or e-mail us for more information or to be placed on our contact list. You can also find more information at http://www.stpeternorthridge.org/index.php/ministries/operationcomfort