Iowa Military Youth Build Confidence at Summer Camp

From July 19-25, Iowa's Military Youth Summer Camp gave 79 military-connected youth room to try new things, meet peers who understand military life, and grow through a full week away from their usual routines. Team challenges, horseback riding, swimming, climbing, and time with cabinmates helped participants move beyond their comfort zones while building trust and confidence.

Chaplain Evan Johnson spoke with the group about the curveballs life can throw and how plans do not always unfold the way we expect. His message invited youth to think about resilience as a practical choice: acknowledge the unexpected, lean on the people around you, and decide how to move forward.

Campers also turned reflection into action. During a service project, they assembled care kits for families of the fallen, connecting the week's lessons about empathy and leadership to families whose sacrifices remain part of the military community.

In their scrapbooks, youth explored the YMCA's four core values and saved photos from the week alongside the names and contact information of new friends. Part reflection journal and part yearbook, each book gave campers a way to carry the people, lessons, and memories of camp home with them.

Parent feedback showed why those connections matter. Families described children returning home with new confidence, meaningful friendships, and stories they could not stop sharing. For one child whose father received an unexpected deployment, camp offered a welcome break and a circle of girls who understood what she was facing.