Maine Summer Camps for Military Youth
The University of Maine Cooperative Extension
27 July 2011 » Jonathan Downing
Trip includes whitewater rafting, kayaking, rock climbing, hiking and ropes course adventures. 5 world class adventures – on one trip of a lifetime!
Photos curtosey of The University of Maine Cooperative Extension.
Download the Flyer [PDF]
The University of Maine Cooperative Extension has received funding through two U.S. Department of Defense grants to provide summer camps to Youth with family in the military. Download the Flyer [PDF]
The eligibility requirements are different for the two programs outlined below. For a complete list of eligibility details, please call (207) 789-5868.
Military Adventure Camp
Rivers, Rocks, Ropes & Mountains - Trip includes whitewater rafting, kayaking, rock climbing, hiking and ropes course adventures. 5 world class adventures – on one trip of a lifetime!
- August 5 to 12
- Ages 14 to 18
Operation Military Kids!
Island & Sea Discovery Trip – Trip includes camping on a coastal cabin and exploring coves and island via canoe.
- August 1 to 3
- Ages 11 to 16
- Cost: Free
Point of Contact:
Jonathan Downing
Camp Director
Blueberry Cove 4-H Camp and Learning Center University of Maine Cooperative Extension
22 Blueberry Cove Road
Tenants Harbor, ME 04860
www.umaine.edu/tanglewood
207-372-6353 summer office
207-701-7241 cell
jonathan.downing@maine.edu
Maine Army National Guard Unit Completes Construction Projects For Maine Communities
11 July 2011 » By SSG Nathan D. Beaver
In Waterville, 1st Platoon from the 185th Engineer Support Company from Caribou spent part of their Annual Training on a community service project. 1st Platoon Soldiers improved a single lane dirt road into two lanes into the Waterville Parks and Recreation Nordic Trail system.
In Skowhegan, 2nd Platoon from the 185th Engineer Support Company from Caribou spent part of their Annual Training on a community service project. 2nd Platoon blazed a half mile long handicap-accessible hiking and biking trail along the Kennebec River Gorge.
In Skowhegan, 3rd Platoon from the 185th Engineer Support Company from Caribou spent part of their Annual Training on a community service project. 3rd Platoon created a drainage system and retention pond for a new youth football field behind the Skowhegan community center.
Soldiers from the 185th Engineer Support Company from Caribou spent their Annual Training on community service projects during Annual Training 2011. Company Photo.
Caribou, Maine – For two weeks in June 68 Maine Army National Guard Soldiers from the Caribou based 185th Engineer Support Company descended upon the grounds of Good Will-Hinckley Home for Boys & Girls over 200 miles south in Hinckley, Maine.
The 185th is a remnant of the 1st Battalion152nd Field Artillery which was headquartered in Aroostook County from 1921 to 2007.
The 185th convoyed south on June 14th following a flag raising ceremony at the Veteran's Memorial Cemetery in Caribou. The scenic residential campus of Good Will-Hinckley became the temporary operations center for the unit's personnel and several dozen pieces of heavy construction equipment.
Each of the three construction platoons performed community improvement projects in nearby Waterville and Skowhegan.
In Waterville, 1st Platoon improved a single lane dirt road into two lanes into the Waterville Parks and Recreation Nordic Trail system. In Skowhegan, 2nd Platoon blazed a half mile long handicap-accessible hiking and biking trail along the Kennebec River Gorge. 3rd Platoon created a drainage system and retention pond for a new youth football field behind the Skowhegan community center.
In all the unit hauled over 5,000 cubic yards of earth, created over 1.2 miles of nature trails, and ultimately saved Skowhegan and Waterville taxpayers over a half million dollars in labor and equipment costs.
The unit's Commander, Captain Michael Gary, said "Throughout the year our parent battalion seeks projects throughout Maine that provide a valuable training opportunity for my Soldiers and also gives a benefit back to the people of the State of Maine."
"These projects enabled me to certify over 25 of my young soldiers on pieces of heavy equipment such as bulldozers, pay loaders, graders, rollers and skid steers."
The two week period of active duty served as the unit's Annual Training which is additional to the monthly weekend drills Soldiers are required to attend each year.
The first several days were spent primarily in Caswell Training Area near Loring performing combat maneuvers, before transitioning to engineering operations in Southern Maine.
The unit is now gearing up for local construction projects at the Washburn Elementary School and Houlton High School over the summer months.
For additional information on how your local community can solicit assistance from the unit or for part time employment opportunities contact a 185th Engineer Support Company representative at 430-5395.
2011 Military Retireee Activity Day
Camp Johnson in Colchester, Vermont
7 July 2011 » By Vermont Army National Guard
Military retirees from throughout New England are invited to attend the Fourteenth Annual Northern New England Military Retiree Activity Day which will take place at the Vermont Army National Guard's Regional Training Institute (RTI) at Camp Johnson in Colchester on Saturday, July 23rd from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm .
Military Retirees from all branches of Service and Gray Area retirees from the National Guard and Reserve who are not yet receiving retirement checks will have the opportunity to attend this event which will update them on military retirement benefits that they have earned while serving in the Armed Forces of the United States. Retirees will have the opportunity to receive legal assistance, health care information, pay information, survival benefits, Deers/ID Card renewals and meet with representatives from veteran's organizations and companies providing services to veterans.
Retiree Activity Day will begin with registration from 8-9:00 am followed by an Opening Ceremony at 9:00 am. Briefings and information stations will be available until 3:00 pm. The Vermont Army National Guard's Regional Training Institute (RTI) is located at the Vermont National Guard's Headquarters at Camp Johnson in Colchester. Military personnel will guide you to the RAD parking.
The 2011 Retiree Activity Day is sponsored by the Vermont National Guard in cooperation with Hanscom Air Force Base, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Brunswick Naval Air Station, Fort Drum, and the National Guard and retiree councils from Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont.
For more information, contact LtCol Lloyd Goodrow at (802) 338-3324 (email Lloyd.Goodrow@us.army.mil) or Major (Ret) Paul G. Blacketor at blacketor1@yahoo.com or 802-893-7186.
