McConnell Airmen volunteer at youth outreach program

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class John Linzmeier
  • 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  Volunteers from the Sedgwick County Police Department, Emergency Medical Services and Team McConnell helped facilitate an annual awareness camp administrated by the Boy Scouts of America, May 28 through 30, at the Jim James Memorial 101 Club, Wichita, Kansas.

Thirty-four Airmen participated in the outreach program, the camp catered toward students with lower economic backgrounds from 60 schools throughout the local area.

"It's been a great opportunity to reach out to these kids and spend time outdoors," said Senior Airman Robert Calvo, 22nd Communications Squadron airfield systems journeyman, who organized the McConnell volunteers. "A lot of kids these days spend a lot of time sitting at home playing video games, so it was a good way for them to be active and have new experiences."

Service members and other volunteers led groups of nearly 400 boys, ages six through 10, through outdoor activities such as fishing, archery, swimming, craft making, launching bottle-rockets and more.

On the surface level, "A-Camp" is all fun and games, but according to Thomas Montiel, Awareness Camp director, its purpose is to help young kids learn how to make connections with people.

"Awareness camp comes down to kids building relationships with the people around them," said Montiel. "They get to meet other kids from all parts of the city with different backgrounds and ethnicities. They also learn to build relationships with the adults who are local heroes."

The volunteers surprised kids during their lunch break by wearing their uniforms and showcasing military and civilian first-responder vehicles such as Humvees, patrol cars, and ambulances from their organizations on the third and final day of the event.

"It has a huge impact on the kids when they first see us in uniform," said Calvo. "Some of them run wild and some kids cry because we have already formed a bond with them over the past two days as regular people."

The day camp was funded by The United Way and completely ran by volunteers. While it only lasted three days, Montiel said plans for next year's camp begins the following week, and he is hoping the program will expand in the years to come.

"We're already looking forward to next year's A-Camp, and hopefully we'll get even more Airmen," said Montiel. "We would not be able to accommodate more than 300 kids without their help. The more volunteers we have, the more kids we're able to accommodate."