Summer Camp, Service, Sierra Club and the Obama Family
Summer is here and Sierra Club's Military Families Outdoors (MFO) program is in full swing. It's been an amazing summer already and are looking forward to more great things to come.
Last week Sierra Club MFO participated in the White House's new summer service initiative "United We Serve" event to benefit the children of military families. Sierra Club volunteers joined with the National Military Family Association, congressional family members, the Obama family and others to stuff 15,000 backpacks for military children. 10,000 of those backpacks are being sent to kids attending the Sierra Club funded National Military Family Association's Operation Purple camps this summer. The other 5,000 back packs will be distributed by the USO to military children in the DC area. Backpacks were filled with snacks, books, and frisbees, as well as a baseball card of the First Dog "Bo" and a special letter from the President and First Lady.
The Sierra Club was honored to participate in the event and we are excited about White House efforts to highlight the importance of "service" and to recognize the tremendous service of military veterans, families and children. The White House and the Corporation for National Service organized the event and are encouraging Americans to volunteer in their communities this summer. Check out www.serve.gov for more information. Click here to see video on the White House blog of the President and First Lady's remarks at the event.
At right, NMFA's Patty Barron with First Lady Michelle Obama, photos courtesy of Michelle Joyner
Speaking of videos, our partners at the Armed Services YMCA just completed a new video highlighting a recent Sierra Club funded camping experience in Rock Springs, Kansas. The camp was the first of its kind for Kansas military families with children who have physical and emotional disabilities. The short video includes great testimonials from family members about what the camping experience meant to them. Check out our MFO homepage to see highlights and you can also Click here to watch the video on YouTube.
Please have a wonderful and safe 4th of July Holiday!






