For Veterans and the Military

For Veterans and the Military

At Life Adventure Center (LAC), we happily continue a 140-year commitment to improving the quality of life for youth and families by offering incomparable outdoor experiential learning programs. As an organization, we operate by the guiding philosophy that people learn best by doing. In addition to working with other at-risk groups, LAC staff are proficient in building impactful programs for military service members, wounded warriors, military families, and veterans.

Military Programs

Our Military Extension Adventure Camps, Wounded Warrior Programs, and Family Camp Programs engage, educate, and empower participants by teaching lessons of respect, responsibility, communication, and teamwork. Furthermore, we expose participants to a number of fun and engaging recreational activities that they can pursue regardless of whatever physical or mental challenges they may face.

We encourage active servicemembers and their families to apply for our MEAC camps. Applicants to our camps will be reviewed on an ongoing basis, and individuals selected to participate in our camps will be notified as soon as possible.

Once applicants are accepted, LAC must receive the downloadable forms and $30 registration fee for EACH participant before they will be confirmed. If you have any questions regarding the application process, please contact our office at (859)873-3271.

Click here to begin your MEAC 2013 application.

Click here to download additional registration forms

Support

The Life Adventure Center Military programs are designed to create an environment where service members and their families can build relationships and interact as a part of a healthy community.

These events are provided free of charge to service members, veterans and their families. If you are interested in helping support these programs, email.

What Service Members Face

In 2011, suicide was the second-leading cause of military deaths (20%) behind combat (26%). The military suicide rate is nearly three times higher than the civilian rate (7%) for men ages 17 to 60.

Across the military, divorce rates are the highest they have been in 15 years, with nearly 30,000 military marriages ending last year.

The military suicide rate rose 80 percent from 2004 to 2008; 18% so far in 2012.

Operation Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, and New Dawn statistics: 6,653 deaths, over 50,000 wounded, over 300,000 Traumatic Brain Injuries, and over 400,000 cases of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Diagnoses for mental disorders among active-duty troops have risen 65 percent in the past 12 years.

Military and Veteran Needs

The active deployment, post-deployment, and reintegration stages can be times of great joy and family cohesiveness, but they can also be times of great stress and disorganization. While a parent is deployed or receiving treatment in a hospital, the rest of the family must make sacrifices and work together as a team to fill in the gaps. As service members return from deployment, or leaves the military, they must reintegrate into family life and society as a whole. Everyone must work together to establish a 'new normal.' However, if support is available and deployments and reintegration are handled in a healthy manner, they can be a time for parents and their children to connect on new and deeper levels. It was revealed through 2011 and 2012 camp evaluation data from Kentucky Military-Extension Adventure Camps that participants found the time together with their children, interacting with fellow service members and their kids, sharing stories, and having camaraderie were especially important and meaningful.