FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. -- First in line for yellow team's water challenge event, Carson McCoy, 12, smiled and took a runner ready stance -- intending to make every second count.
On the command "Go!" Carson took off as her teammates loudly cheered her on, grabbing a shirt, immersing it in a bucket of water and then quickly putting it on as she raced to the other end of the field. The team goal was to fill a bucket at the other end of the field with water in the shortest amount of time, using a T-shirt as the only means to transfer the water.
As their laughter and encouraging cries filled the air Tuesday morning during the team challenge portion of Camp SOS, the campers took turns rotating through the challenge until their task was complete.
"It's a lot of fun." said Carson. "We have a lot of different activities and team challenges every day, here at camp."
Fort Campbell Survivor Outreach Services, in partnership with the Fort Campbell Armed Services YMCA, joined together to host Camp SOS, a seven-day overnight camp that provides a fun getaway, this year to 20 Fort Campbell children.
"The Survivor Outreach Camp is for children who have lost a parent or loved one who has made the ultimate sacrifice for our Nation," said Shirley West, director of the ASYMCA at Fort Campbell. "Our mission is just to let them have fun, let them focus on being kids -- being with other kids that they can kind of relate to and know what they are going through."
While most grief camps focus on healing through counseling, Camp SOS instead focuses on healing through fun.
"There are a lot of different organizations out there, non-profits that reach out to our Families and offer grief work and things like that through camps," said Suzy Yates, Survivor Outreach Services support coordinator. "This camp is different. We wanted these kids to come out and realize they still can be a kid. They can laugh again, they can have fun, and there is that common bond that they have all lost a Soldier that was serving on active duty."
"The SOS camp is for fun," said West. "We have a military life consultant here just in case the kids do have issues but other than that we focus on and talk about fun things."
Survivor Outreach Camp is in its third year and kids, ages 9 through 12, arrived at Camp Hinsch Sunday for a week's worth of fun that includes bowling, farm field trips, water park excursions and fishing expeditions. This year campers will also go on a trip to the Tennessee Aquarium located in Chattanooga.
"We always do one big trip," said West. "And this year it's our trip to Chattanooga. The kids are really excited about that."
More than half of the children at the camp are returning campers, and while they enjoy having a week's worth of challenging team building events and exciting outings, the friendships created seem to be what the children appreciate most.
Carson, who attended Camp SOS last year as well, values being able to share a week of fun with other kids that can relate to her experiences.
"I like that you can come here and make new friends and that they share the same experiences that you've had," said Carson. "And they know what's happening, and they don't pity you, they just...They get it."
Thirteen year-old Journey Vestal looks forward to the camp every summer.
"[The camp] allows me to get along with more people," said Journey. "I'm mostly quiet. Having that common bond helps a lot."
The bond that joins the children of SOS camp, although tragic, is one of strength, resiliency, and one that forges life-long friendships, said Yates.
"The dynamic here is really interesting because our older kids that have been here a couple years, they are taking the little kids under their wing," said Yates. "It's really cool to see the older kids mentor the little kids."
"Our hope is that the kids go home realizing they are not alone," continued Yates. "That they can be a kids -- its OK to laugh, its OK for them to cry, whatever emotion that they have going on -- this is their safe place they can come to every year and realize there are other kids going through the same thing."
Thanks to the Armed Services YMCA and a grant received from the Newman's Own Foundation, the SOS camp is on track for next year as well.
"My hopes are that these kids have fun, make wonderful memories, and be able to heal a little bit, in a way that's fun -- fun healing," said West.
Carson is not only looking forward to next year, she hopes other children join in on the fun. "It's a great experience. You'll meet new people, you'll make new friends -- you would have a lot of fun."
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