MARINE CORPS AIR STATION NEW RIVER, N.C. -- During the summer, kids like to go outdoors and play in the sun, and enjoy their time with friends and family.
The Exceptional Family Member Program hosted a Spring Fling aboard the Marine Corps Air Station New River Marina, July 22.
Children burned off energy as they participated in crafts, slide down a water slide, and jumped around in a bouncy house. Children and parents also ate an outdoor meal of hamburgers and hotdogs.
“The Summer Fling event is one of those programs that is not only a way for parents to network but also to give their children a safe environment to enjoy themselves,” said Holly Conner, EFMP president of the advisory board committee aboard the air station.
The EFMP hosts events, such as the Spring Fling, to not only allow children to let loose and have fun, but it also gives parents an opportunity to communicate with others who may be going through the same situation.
“If you’re raising a child with a special need, you come together in this fun environment and talk to another parent and say, ‘Hey, this is what I’m going through, this is what I’m doing to help this,’” Booth said. “Parents provide a huge amount of support for each other; we are only a staff of five, so bringing all of the parents together creates an entirely different level of support for them.”
For more information on how to volunteer for the next event contact the EFMP center at 910-449-5251. For future events and classes, visit the EFMP website at http://www.mccsnr.com/efmp.html.