Citizen Soldiers Conduct A
Very Special Summer Camp
Camp Minuteman 98!
Story & photos by SPC Charles Ames
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For the seventh consecutive year the Washington State Guard hosted it’s popular "Camp Minuteman". This event is open to the children of Washington Army and Air National Guardsmen, the State Guard, and the civilian employees of State Emergency Management and the State Military Department. This year 47 campers from throughout the state of Washington attended the one week long summer camp held at Camp Murray in Tacoma from July 26th to August 1st, 1998. 13 of this years children attended last years camp as well!
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As in previous years the purpose of the 1998 "Camp Minuteman" was to teach good citizenship skills to the children and provide them with a glimpse into the military life of "Mom" or "Dad" when they go off for their monthly weekend drills. This year the children, ages 10 and 11 - about half of them girls - went on exciting field trips to Ft. Lewis, McChord Air Force Base, the Washington Historical Museum, and the capitol in Olympia. Other activities included classes on water safety, environmental awareness, arts and crafts, sports, swimming, visits from firemen and police officers, and many other "typical" summer camp activities. It short - it was lots of fun!
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Many of this years Camp Counselors were themselves campers at previous camps and came back to "Camp Minuteman" from as far away as Texas to lend a hand. Counselors are generally Junior ROTC cadets, and this year, for the first time came from the ranks of the Naval Sea Cadets as well. Members of the Washington State Guard volunteer as staff and no state or federal funds are used for the camp.
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Campers pay a nominal camp registration fee of $95, or receive scholarships to attend. A large portion of the cost of this year’s camp was covered by private donations. Since 1992 WSG members have volunteered over 10,000 man hours to make "Camp Minuteman" happen. Safety is a primary concern at "Camp Minuteman". Each child goes through a comprehensive "sign-in" process that includes a medical station, where needs such as required prescription medications are addressed.
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Each child is also issued a set of "dog tags" which they keep as a momento of the camp. Camp Director Dave Olling - called "Grrouch Olling" by some of the kids, a nickname Dave embraces - briefs the campers. "We want you to go back home at the end of the week with all of your appendages, i.e., arms, legs, toes, whatever. One way to get in trouble really quickly is to not follow the rules." One of Ollings jobs is to provide an air of military discipline without interfering with the summer fun.
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National Guard professional nurses, who also donated their time, provided medical supervision of camp activities. Security for the camp was provided by the Camp Murray Security Police.
Each child leaves the camp with three tee shirts - red, white and blue. During the camp these tee shirts are used to identify the children as members of different groups or teams during activities. The parents said that these tee shirts had become favorites for their children.
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"This is their second year attending Camp Minuteman," says 1LT Ron Jimerson, Detachment Commander of the 215th Installation Engineering Squadron in Everett, speaking of his daughter and her cousin. "They've been looking forward to this since last year. They were particularly impressed with the counselors. They really liked the yearbook, they thought that was great."
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When asked if they had changed at all as a result of camp Jimerson responded "For quite few months afterwards, they were very attentive about their rooms, listening to their parents. We’re back for reinforcement training!" laughs Ron.
In fact the children do receive a primer of drill and ceremonies, and are required to clean their barracks and the surrounding area each morning and to make their bunks military-style.
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Says Dawn Marshbank from Kent, of her son, "I want to see him make some friends, hopefully, that live in other areas of the state that he can maybe stay in contact with, pen pals; give him someplace to visit someday, he can visit friends, see where other people live." Speaking with parents of children who are returning to a second year of camp Brigadier General John A. York, the Commander of the Washington State Guard noted that he was told that kids accepted a more varied and healthy diet at home after attending camp.
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"They eat things they never did before", he was told. BG York is fond of slipping into the mess hall incognito.
"I'll sit with some of the kids. They don’t know who I am because I'll walk around in civilian clothes. Later, some kids will ask if I can sit with them next time".
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"Among other activities", BG York relates; "they will take tours of the State Capitol, a look at the Supreme Court, we'll teach them respect for the flag; we have reveille and retreat everyday, we have people come out [dressed in traditional clothing] from different times in history." At the graduation ceremonies parents were reunited with their exhausted but happy children. Another successful camp comes to a close.
BG York encourages all Guard families, including civilian employees of the Military Department and the Emergency Management Division, to send their kids to "Camp Minuteman" in 1999! For more information on this popular youth camp, contact COL Emory Lehman, Deputy Camp Director, at (253) 512-8268.
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