FORT MCCOY, Wis. -- Youth participating in the Fort McCoy Summer Camp program are incorporating the Six Pillars of Character into their daily activities, said Cori Yahnke, Fort McCoy School Age and Youth Center director. Yahnke said the program has been ongoing, and the CHARACTER COUNTS! Pillars are woven into every activity the youth in the Child, School & Youth (CYS) Services program participate in year-round.

Many youth are participating in the current CYS Services Summer Camp program, with total youth in a recent week nearing the 100-person mark.

As part of the CHARACTER COUNTS! program, participants learn about trustworthiness, respect, caring, fairness, citizenship and responsibility through a weekly activity. For example, a recent multi-cultural class stressed respect, caring, fairness and citizenship.

Other youth were participating in a Boys & Girls Club (BGCA) of America Triple Play Gamesroom Tournament that stressed respect and fairness during the activity. Those pillars are then reinforced by integrating them into all other activities.

Youth have choices between CYS Services, 4-H, and BCGA activities daily. Activities available include Triple Play Sports Club, Healthy Habits, Art Club, Science Club, Tech Club, Computer Lab, Smart Moves, StartSmart Sports, Preschool Mentoring, Money Matters, and much more.

The program also makes daily use of the installation’s Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) facilities and programs. Some of the MWR events or activities include bowling at McCoy’s, swimming at the Rumpel Fitness Center, and outdoor activities such as paintball, laser tag, mini golf, paddle boating, swimming, and playing at the park at Pine View Campground and Whitetail Ridge.

The Youth Center also offers a BGCA Torch Club, which fosters positive self-esteem and personal growth, building communication skills, reinforcing academic achievement and encouraging the development of conscientious citizenship.

CYS Services youth also go on various field trips throughout the summer. Yahnke said those in grades 6-12 help plan their field trips in July and August as a way to introduce more responsibility and ownership into the program for older youth.

For more information about the program, call Parent Central Services at 608-388-8956 or the School Age/Youth Center at 608-388-4373.