Camp Adventure is a summer camp program for military dependent youth and can give Iowa State students a chance to see the world.

The non-profit organization takes nearly 700 college students from colleges all over the United States to provide day-camp services on 118 American military bases throughout 13 countries.

Christopher Edginton, Camp Adventure founder, said, “Camp Adventure strives to create magical moments for children that will last a lifetime.”

The world headquarters for Camp Adventure is based at the University of Northern Iowa, traditionally where Camp Adventure training is held. For this reason, a vast majority of the participants are UNI students.

Edginton, who is also the director of the School of Health, Physical Education and Leisure Services at UNI, said, “In the summer of 1996, only 17 Iowa State students participated.”

Edginton hopes to change that by offering Camp Adventure training for the first time at Iowa State, starting Feb. 27.

In previous years, ISU participants would have to make the journey to UNI several times for the selection and training process.

Once accepted, the final step is Camp Adventure College. For eight weeks, soon-to-be camp counselors are required to attend a four-hour training session once a week.

“Training is actually a lot of fun,” said ISU participant Rebecca Krueger. “It’s not a ‘sit down and listen to lecture’ class. You’re playing games, eating snacks and watching crazy skits most of the time. You feel like a kid again.”

Camp Adventure College not only teaches camp activities, but also provides training in risk and behavior management, children’s needs, counselor roles, Camp Adventure philosophy and expectations and working with the military, Edginton said.

Camp Adventure specializes in day-camp programs for 6- to 12-year-olds, but also offers specialty camps such as learn-to-swim camps, teen camps, sports camps and computer camps.

According to Edginton, participants do not get paid, but do however, receive a living stipend that is approximately $1,500-$1,900 for the summer.

“The stipend,” he said, “is intended for cultural experiences, travel and food.”

This stipend is what affords participants to do such extensive traveling on their weekends.

Jen Bloes, a counselor in Belgium from the University of Iowa, said her stipend was used for exactly that. “You have to really budget so that your stipend pays for all of your traveling. I didn’t save any of my stipend, but I didn’t spend hardly any of my own money either. And in 12 weekends, I saw 11 countries. It was amazing.”

However, Molly Higgins, a counselor from UNI who was based in Germany said, “You really have to know how to budget. I thought I did, but pretty soon, I’d spent my stipend, and Western Union and Visa were my new best friends.”

Camp Adventure participants usually live on the military base for the summer.

They are allowed military privileges, such as shopping at the commissary and using military mail, which also cut down on costs while the students are overseas.

According to the Department of the Army, camps such as Camp Adventure have been recognized as “important programs that support the overall objectives of military morale, welfare and recreation.”

The first training session is Feb. 27 at 6:45 p.m. in 102 Hamilton Hall, or if interested contact the ISU Study Abroad Office at 292-6792.