Operation Purple Program offers summer camps for military kids Published April 7, 2011 27 Special Operations Wing Force Support Squadron CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- Operation Purple camps are a time for having fun, making friends, and reminding military kids that they are the nation's youngest heroes. The mission of the Operation Purple program, sponsored by the National Military Family Association, is to empower military children and their families to develop and maintain healthy and connected relationships, in spite of the current military environment. The program includes camps for pre-teens and teens, family retreats at the national parks, and camps geared to address the needs of children and families of our nation's wounded service members. The program is joint, or "purple," and open to children and families of active duty, National Guard or Reserve service members from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, or the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. With several camp locations, the closest to Cannon AFB is located in Capitan, N.M .at Fort Lone Tree near the base of the Capitan Mountain Range in Southeastern New Mexico. Sitting at 7,000 feet in elevation, the high adventure activities include horseback riding, rappelling, rock climbing walls, 50-foot tall Alpine Tower ropes course, 440-foot waterslide, giant swing, mountain scooters, remote control car track, 22-foot rifle range, archery, and much more. The 2011 Operation Purple camp applications are now available at http://www.militaryfamily.org/our-programs/operation-purple/2011-camps/ along with a list of camp locations. Completing an application does not constitute acceptance to an Operation Purple camp. Decisions on acceptance status will be sent via e-mail May 2011, and first priority goes to children who have a deployed parent anytime between December 2010 and December 2011. Questions regarding the Operation Purple program can be directed to OPC@militaryfamily.org. New Mexico Camp Dates: Location: Fort Lone Tree/Lone Tree Ranch in Capitan, NM Camp dates for ages 9-12: Monday, June 6 - Friday, June 10, 2011 Camp dates for ages 13-17: Monday, August 1 - Saturday, August 6, 2011 For more information, visit, www.lonetree.org