GILEAD, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- For the past 13 years, many children with family members in the military have attended camp in the town of Gilead, an experience that campers and staff members say provides a valuable support network.
More than 100 campers are attending this year's youth camp for children with family members in the Maine Army National Guard. This year's activities include kayaking, swimming, and overnight trips among many others.
Brennan MacDonald is a junior counselor who was also a camper for many years. He says the week is a great opportunity to share experiences with others facing the same challenges.
"I go to Bangor, and there's over 1,300 kids in my school. I have a lot of friends in Bangor, but they can't really relate to me that I have parents serving in the military, and they don't necessarily understand what it's like when a parent goes out on deployment, whereas here, you have kids that are in the same boat as you," MacDonald said.
Campers and staff arrived in Gilead Sunday. The youth camp runs all the way through Saturday.
NEWS CENTER