Children and youth are impacted and affected by deployments. Although youth are resilient, they have issues related to deployments that are seen in school, and have reported issues such as anxiety, stress, confusion, relationship strain and increased responsibilities at home. Further, youth reported that their peers don't understand what they are experiencing by being separated from a loved one.

Every summer, there are several youth, teen and family camps for military personnel offered by various organizations at no-to-low cost. As of now, plenty of space is available for your military child to attend one of these extraordinary camps. In doing so, they will be able to connect with other military kids, learn new activities and come to understand a little bit what their parents go through while serving in the United States military.

Until June 30, youth ages 10-15 can sign up for one of the Minnesota National Guard Youth & Teen Camps. The camps run during the last week of July and the first week of August at Camp Ripley and cost $150. The seven-day camp is loaded with activities like hiking onto a Camp Ripley training site for an overnight camping experience and opportunities to swim, bike and navigate using a compass.

The July 10-13 sessions at the Voyageur Environmental Center in Mound is dedicated as a military camp. Youth ages 8-14 can register for the four-day, activities-based camp at no charge. With archery, canoeing, swimming, campfires and camping, this is the kind of camp experience that can create lifelong friendships and a passion for the outdoors.

Find all of the summer camps currently offered by visiting our camp page at www.BeyondTheYellowRibbon.org/youth-camps.

News of the earthquake and resulting tsunami that struck Japan in March was felt hard for one Farmington family. Their son, a Marine, had landed on the island nation just three hours prior. He was out of contact for quite some time, leaving the family to speculate about his safety.

The young Marine was later reached, miles from danger, but the story got American Legion Auxiliary Unit #189 president Michelle Leonard to seriously think about organizing an event that would recognize young people in the Farmington community that have committed to serve in the Armed Forces.

"Just thinking about how much his life changed since enlisting, and how much his mom's life changed," Leonard said. "This decision to enlist is so much bigger than any one of us can imagine."

To honor the 18 Farmington High School students that have enlisted or committed to do so this past year, Leonard invited families, students and representatives from the area's various veterans' organizations to a recognition ceremony last month.

Minnesota American Legion Department Commander, Tom Lannon, attended the one-hour event and spoke about camaraderie and his own experiences in the service. The 17 seniors, including one junior who anticipated receiving her high school diploma in her dress blues, received a certificate, a red rose and individual recognition at the event.

"Afterwards, several people came up to me and said, 'It's so nice these students were recognized. What a great ceremony,'" Leonard said.

"This is just tremendous," Everson said to CBS Minnesota reporter Lindsey Seavert.

The deck build, launched by the North American Deck and Railing Association (NADRA), was the first of its kind in Minnesota. While NADRA has been operating its Deck For a Soldier program since 2007, this is the first time companies from the newly formed Minnesota NADRA Chapter have taken part.

"We went through a long process of finding and selecting the candidate that was most deserving of this project," said Pat Noonan, Minnesota NADRA Chapter president. "Todd's a bona fide hero, he saved a man's life."

During Everson's deployment to Iraq, his convoy was struck by a roadside bomb. He raced to the aid of fellow Guardsmen John Kriesel, now a State Representative, who lost both legs in the blast.

"You go through something like that, you're life changes," Everson said. "But one thing that changes for the better is how much you appreciate the things that you have."

To apply for NADRA's Deck For a Soldier program, visit www.nadra.org.

"We're covering all of the 1st BCT (1st Brigade Combat Team) and anybody that will be deployed by September 1, 2011," said Cathy Wenzel, executive officer of MVFS, "including soldiers from out of state deploying with Minnesota units."

By completing the online application, a parent or guardian can submit a list of school supplies needed for their Kindergarten - 12th grade child or dependant. All children of any currently deployed, recently returned (within 12 months), wounded, disabled or MIA/KIA Servicemembers are eligible to receive the backpacks.

"There never seems to be a shortage of need," Wenzel said. "And we'll purchase as many backpacks as we need to."

Wenzel said the program helps parents and caregivers during a time when so much is going on and lets the children know that somebody cares about them and recognizes their sacrifice.

Families affected by deployment or other military circumstances are encouraged to apply for a backpack at www.mvfs-mn.org.

 Make a difference

Throughout the 2011 season, the Minnesota Twins are recognizing Yellow Ribbon Volunteers that go above and beyond in their community. Each month, Beyond the Yellow Ribbon accepts nominations for outstanding volunteers for recognition by the Twins at Target Field, and in May that distinction went to Heather Rank. For her efforts she received four tickets to the May 23 game, and during the pregame ceremonies Heather was brought onto the field as the following script was read over the PA system:

Heather Rank, the wife of an Air National Guard member, knows what it's like to keep a family going during deployment. She is one of the founding members of the Yellow Ribbon effort in Pine City. She spoke at the city's Kickoff event, and has tapped into the education steering committee to ensure they are meeting the needs of military kids. She has been a great spokespersons for Yellow Ribbon, appearing in a training video that is shown state wide at all Yellow Ribbon Kickoffs.  

When Pine City lost a member of their community, a soldier serving in Afghanistan last August, Heather coordinated the community to line the streets with flags during his memorial service in support of his mother and family. She is currently working hard on the deployment ceremony for the Pine City Army National Guard unit that will deploy Memorial weekend. 

The following day, via Facebook, Heather said, "It was such an honor. Thank you to Cindy, Jessica and my entire family for making the night so special and memorable."

Minnesota Military Appreciation Fund
(MMAF), Minnesota Military Family Foundation (MMFF) and Minnesota Veteran Family Support (MVFS) were invited by the American Society of Military Comptrollers (ASMC) to have a charity booth at their National Conference in Minneapolis.

The conference, called the National Professional Development Institute, was a training event for resource managers in the Department of Defense and United States Coast Guard. More than 3,500 attendees were in town for the four day event, which included a full day of service activities as well as general sessions and workshops.

Throughout the week attendees stopped by booths to learn about MMAF, MMFF and MVFS, and they were invited to leave donations or participate in a silent auction that benefited the nonprofits.

Beyond the Yellow Ribbon also had a booth at the conference and shared the good news about several emerging Yellow Ribbon networks throughout the state. ASMC honored Beyond the Yellow Ribbon with a plaque that read, "Presented to Beyond the Yellow Ribbon in appreciation of your support to our Servicemembers and their families, 3 June 2011."

As of June 2011, all members of the United States Army Reserve and Army National Guard (ARNG) will begin transitioning to GoArmyEd, the Army's new online education system. Previously utilized only by active duty, GoArmyEd allows Servicemembers, Army education counselors and schools a single portal to conduct business for all education needs that serves all Army components.

GoArmyEd gives the soldier 24/7 online access to register for classes and contact counselors, schools and the GoArmyEd Helpdesk. The system allows the user to view their Federal Tuition Assistance (FTA) balance for the year and review their individual degree plan, student record, course history and grades. Additionally, GoArmyEd enables Servicemembers to withdraw from classes or request military withdrawals, resolve recoupment and holds and request tuition assistance for courses not offered through the portal, all online.

New military members and those who haven't requested FTA recently can create a new account and begin the process of receiving tuition assistance. Current students that have used the FTA system since 2006 will receive an e-mail encouraging them to create a GoArmyEd account.

After Aug. 1, 2011, soldiers can begin requesting FTA for courses that start on or after Oct. 1, 2011. For classes starting prior to Oct. 1, 2011, soldiers will use the current National Guard FTA system.

To create an account, visit www.GoArmyEd.com.