Summit brings military teens together Published Aug. 16, 2017 By Tech. Sgt. Kelly Goonan 94th Airlift Wing Public Affairs DAHLONEGA, Ga. – Teenagers with a parent serving in the reserve component often assume additional responsibilities at home. From providing care to siblings during unit training assembly weekends to coping with deployment, these youths may not fully understand their parents’ roles as military members. Many active duty families build friendships with other military families by meeting up around base or, in some cases, attending school together. Reservists and their family members, however, often live in a variety of locations and in some cases whole states away from each other. The Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard Teen Leadership Summit was created to provide an opportunity for military teens to learn more about how their parents support the Air Force’s mission, all while building lasting friendships through a variety of activities. “Ideally, we want them to bring home leadership skills that they can use at school as well as in their personal life,” said Dr. Casey Mull, the program director. “We want these teens to gain a sense of independence, sense of self and better understanding of where they fit within the total Air Force family.” One of this summer’s two Teen Summits was held at the Wahsega 4-H Center in Dahlonega, Ga. Nestled in a valley of the Chattahoochee National Forest, the center boasts a packed schedule for the campers during their week away from home. High ropes, zip lines, white-water rafting, hiking, archery, survival classes, and more keep the teens active and engaged, while developing leadership skills and building self-confidence. “The biggest take away for me is the friends that I’ve made,” said Jaylon J., son of an Air National Guard member and first time camper. “I usually don’t get out that much back home so being outside and sweating every single day is kind of demanding, but the friends I have here now makes it all worth it.” Jaylon explained he feels he’s grown to be more social than he was before, which he said will allow him to make more friends when he returns home. “I’ve learned a lot,” he said. “I’ve held a snake, made cardboard boats, slept in a cabin, in bunk beds. I really wasn’t expecting this but I’ve grown into a better person because of this camp. It’s been a really great experience for me.” Under normal circumstances, a camp offering activities such as white-water rafting and lodging might cost quite a bit. Luckily for these campers, they can attend the camp without worrying about the cost. "Another benefit these camps offer is that they are absolutely free of charge to the member," Mull said. "Transportation and lodging is included." Several adults volunteered to help run the summit. They perform the numerous tasks required to keep the teens safe, including supervising the various activities, transporting them to and from the activities, and watching over them for the duration of the summit. “We ensure the safety and needs of the campers are met,” said Robert Herman, a volunteer leader. “We also make sure the campers stay on schedule.” Herman explained the Teen Summits push their campers out of their comfort zone, causing them to grow and mature as they do things they might normally never have thought of doing. Additionally, many children of Reserve or Guard families have never been to an Air Force installation, so they don’t have as many opportunities to interact with other dependents or to know what their Citizen Airmen family members do to support the Air Force’s mission. “Many Airmen travel a couple hours to their duty station,” he explained. “Their dependents don’t get to see roaring planes or experience the great things that we do. They just know that they’re gone.” One of the greatest aspects of this camp is that it brings together a group of teens with similar experiences, Herman added. “They may be from different areas of the country, different ethnicities or religious backgrounds,” he said. “But here, they’re all one and all together. Just like we are in uniform.” Mull explained the Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard benefit from this program by being able to serve the families of Airmen. He added that Airmen who know their children are taken care of are better equipped to be mission ready. The second Teen Summit occurred August 7-12, 2017 in Estes Park, Colo., where horseback riding, colt training, woodworking, arts and crafts and much more was part of the week’s adventures.
