Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches Caruth Camp Chosen to Host National Military Family Association's Popular Operation Purple Summer Camp Published March 31, 2010 MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- The National Military Family Association announced the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches Caruth Camp was chosen to host their popular Operation Purple summer camp in 2010. The Association developed this free summer camp program in response to the need for increased support for military children, especially those whose parents are or will be deployed. "Our mission is to empower these military children - our youngest heroes - to develop and maintain healthy and connected relationships, in spite of the current military environment. Kids attending Operation Purple camp will have the opportunity to learn the skills to cope with the stress of a deployment and make friends with other kids who are also missing their mom or dad," said Mary Scott, the association's Chairman of the Board. "The National Military Family Association is excited to work with the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches Caruth Camp on this very worthwhile program." The Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches Caruth Camp is located in Inglis on 242 acres of beautiful Florida woodlands. Caruth Camp's regular programs provide services for thousands of Florida's children each year. Boys and girls are taught traditional values through positive, healthy recreational activities and they embrace the camp theme "Law Enforcement Officers are Your Friends." Boys and girls will spend a week with volunteer Law Enforcement Officers enjoying a variety of educational outdoor activities. Canoeing, archery, swimming and many other self-esteem-building activities allow children the opportunity to participate in groups as they learn about teamwork and build positive peer communication skills. Registration for Operation Purple camp began Mar. 15. Applications will only be accepted online. Sign up at www.MilitaryFamily.org to receive e-mail notices and camp updates. Each camp is "purple" and open to children of service members of any branch of Service, active duty, National Guard or Reserve, as well as children of members of the Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service and National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration. Camps are free to all participants thanks to support from the Sierra Club and The Sierra Club Foundation.