Month: March 2023

Marching Towards Success: National and Local Resources for Military Families

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Ohio Military Kids believes in helping our military youth to grow & succeed by providing them with any available resources. We know that military life can be challenging, and that is why we are committed to supporting the families and youth of those who have served our country. In this post, we’ll highlight three programs that are working to support military families: The National Military Family Association, Purdue University’s Military Teen Adventure Camps, and the six Troop and Family Assistance Centers throughout the state.

 

Continue reading Marching Towards Success: National and Local Resources for Military Families →

Blueberry-Lemon Energy Balls

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You’ll Need:

3/4 cup walnuts

1/2 cup pitted dates

1/4 cup dried blueberries

3/4 cup old-fashioned rolled oats

2 tablespoon pure maple syrup

1 teaspoon grated lemon zest

1 tablespoon lemon juice

Directions:

  1. Process walnuts, dates, and blueberries in a food processor until chopped and combined – about 7 to 10 seconds.
  2. Add oats, maple syrup, and lemon juice.
  3. Continue processing until the mixture is smooth and thick. 20 to 30 seconds.
  4. Transfer the paste to a bowl, add lemon zest, and mix.
  5. Using your hands, form the mixture into 18 small balls.
  6. Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

Adapted from: https://www.eatingwell.com/recipe/7964794/blueberry-lemon-energy-balls/

Scrabble Tile Zipper Pull

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You’ll Need:

  • Scrabble tiles
  • Popsicle stick
  • Binder clips
  • Glue-On Bail
  • Lanyard Clip
  • Heavy Duty GlueBackpack with attached scrabble tile zip pull

Directions

  1. Measure and trim a popsicle stick so all the tiles will fit.
  2. Add glue to one side of the stick and arrange tiles straight & evenly. Leave enough room at the top for the bail. Clamp binder clips to the tiles and let set for 2 hours.
  3. Apply the bail to the back using glue. Secure with a binder clip and let set for two hours.
  4. Attach the lanyard clip to the bail and clip it on your backpack!

No bail? Try using the silver piece from an extra small binder clip instead!

Adapted from: https://www.momtastic.com/family/diy-for-kids/448307-scrabble-tile-zipper-pull/

OMK’s Declassified Back to School Survival Guide

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Ohio Suicide Prevention Campaign – Be Present

A resource for parents, teens, and young adults who want to learn more about supporting their peers. Be Present hosts a wealth of information for parents and students about establishing healthy routines, taking care of yourself, and having difficult conversations with people you care about. Youth who are struggling can also find support on this site, or by texting ‘4HOPE’ to 741-741

https://bepresentohio.org/

Developing a Growth Mindset – Learning Heroes

Developing and practicing a Growth Mindset sets us up to succeed! Try out this interactive website – bealearninghero.org/growth-mindset/ – to learn more about developing and using a growth mindset.

Healthy Living – Start Talking!

Across Ohio organizations are working to prevent drug use among some of our most vulnerable citizens – our youth. Start Talking! provides tools to start the conversation with our youth about the importance of living healthy, drug free lives. https://starttalking.ohio.gov/

Developing Financial Literacy – Money as You Grow

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has a great set of tips and resources to help children develop important money management skills. The resources on this site are divided by age ranges from young children to teens & young adults. https://www.consumerfinance.gov/consumer-tools/money-as-you-grow/

Transition – From Elementary to Middle School

Is your young one preparing to take the huge step from elementary to middle school? Consider these tips from OSU:

 

Games and Apps – Educaplay and Photomath

This year, check out interactive games on Educaplay for content on subjects from Math, to English, to the Rivers of Europe. Educaplay.com

Could you or your student use assistance with math homework? Photomath was created by a father to help their children with math homework. Caregivers can review the step-by-step directions provided by the app with their children to solve almost any math problem! https://photomath.com/en/parents

Meet the Team: Theresa Ferrari

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This month, dive in and get to know Theresa! Theresa has worked with OMK for 17 years and is a huge advocate for healthy living. Meet the master of the smoothie  bike – Theresa Ferrari.

 

What is your role with OMK?

I’m the overall project director for OMK.

 

How long have you been involved with OMK?

I have been involved with OMK since the start – our first camp was in 2005.

 

What does a day of work look like for you?

There are no two days that are exactly the same for me, which keeps life interesting. These days, I might be working at home or in person, on campus or out and about. I’m a faculty member at OSU, so I’m involved with more than OMK. I spend my time meeting with people – it could be graduate students working on their research or committees of co-workers working on a project. I also spend time on my own, reading, writing, or preparing for presentations. Some days it’s big picture stuff, other days lots of nitty-gritty details.

 

Do you have a military connection?

My dad was in the Army Air Corps in WWII and later in the Army Reserve. But that was before I was born. I’m old, but not that old.

 

What is one of your favorite camp memories?

After so many years, it’s hard to pick just one favorite camp memory. Overall, my favorite part is seeing campers having fun and coming back year after year. And then seeing campers come back as camp counselors. I remember one time when campers had just arrived on the island, and everyone was waiting around on the dock to get to camp. Without being told to do so, a first-year counselor stepped up and engaged the group in singing camp songs. Those are happy moments for a camp director.

 

How do you hope to make the program even better?

I think the best thing I could do at this point in my career is to ensure that OMK is sustainable when I’m not around.

2023 Camp Dates

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OMK is excited to announce that our 2023 camp dates are now available! We can’t wait to provide another unforgettable summer camp experience for military-connected youth & families.
Please note that registration for these camps is expected to go live in July. Keep an eye on go.osu.edu/OMKEvents for more information and to register when it becomes available.
Our camps are a great opportunity for military kids to make new friends, build resiliency skills, and have fun in a safe and supportive environment. We hope to see you there!