Minnesota Family Programs

Have you purchased your door prize/ice fishing tournament tickets yet for the Justin Morneau Ice Fishing Classic on February 3rd?

With a donation of $20 per ticket, you receive an entry into the door prize drawing and the opportunity to enter your fish into the tournament!

Get more details and buy tickets here!

https://unitedheroesleague.org/2024-justin-morneau-ice-fishing-classic/

Don't forget to come out Friday for the FREE concert with music by Chad Johnson and the MN Transplants!

The proceeds help us keep kids of military families connected to and engaged in their communities through sports.

Friends in the region, help us spread the word by sharing this on your personal page.

Friends near Nitti's Hunters Point Resort, stop in and see Justin to buy door prize tickets on-site!

If you're ready for a break from the winter weather, don't forget about using military MWR beach cottages and cabins around the world.

Poppin' Smoke put together a list of where you can find them: https://www.poppinsmoke.com/military-beach-cottages-waterfront-cabins/

In general, MWR vacation rentals are open to the entire military community: active duty personnel, retirees, reservists, dependents, eligible veterans, and DoD civilians with valid ID and base access. Contact individual facilities directly to inquire about eligibility, pricing, and reservation policies and for a full list of amenities and services.

Calling all veterans and their spouses!🎣❄️

Join Camp Bliss for their Veterans Ice Fishing Retreat next month!

Bundle up and get ready for a retreat that's as much about catching fish as it is about reeling in new friendships.

Register here:
https://campbliss.org/events-list/veterans-spouses-ice-fishing-getaway-february-9-11-2024/

Reach out to Lori with any questions at 320-281-2016.

Friendly Reminder! The first-ever Dogs on Deployment Boarder Webinar with DoD volunteer Karen White is just around the corner. Current boarders and those interested in becoming a DoD Boarder are welcome to register!

📅 January 26, 2024, at 2pm PST/5pm EST via Zoom

👥 Connect with fellow boarders, hear from our special guest service member, and dive into the impact of DoD in military families' lives.

🎤 Interactive Q&A session – your chance to ask questions and gain insights!

🔗 Register: https://www.dogsondeployment.org/page/events

Embrace the journey of self-care and well-being through the transformative power of EMDR therapy, cultivating a harmonious balance that nourishes both your mind and spirit.

Veteran Resilience Project offers access to mental health therapy that is at NO COST to Veterans, current Service Members and/or Spouses (regardless of discharge status).

Do something for yourself and start today. To learn more visit us at https://www.veteranresilienceproject.org/

Did you know that the USDA has a program where they offer home loans and loans for home repairs in rural areas?

In order to be eligible for many USDA loans, household income must meet certain guidelines. Also, the home to be purchased must be located in an eligible rural area as defined by USDA.

To learn more about the program you can go to: https://eligibility.sc.egov.usda.gov/eligibility/welcomeAction.do

Don’t forget, the AMVET scholarships are now accepting applications through May 9th, 2024 until 1453 EST. These scholarships are available to Soldiers, Veterans, Spouses, Children and even grandchildren.

https://www.amvets.org/scholarships

If you have any input, please contact them.

The University of Minnesota and Department of Defense are conducting a study to look for ways to expand access to behavioral health and mental health care for children of families in rural Minnesota who are highly mobile or geographically dispersed.

As part of this effort, they would like to extend an offer to military families to meet with them and provide their input on issues related to this topic. They are inviting individuals to complete a survey and indicate if they would prefer to meet in an individual interview or participate in a focus group. Additional information about the survey and the survey link are in the attached flier.

https://umn.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6foCSxsocNpdbJY

From Bill's Wish:

Are you a Veteran who needs a FREE vehicle? 🚗 🇺🇸

How to apply for a FREE vehicle today: Head to BillsWish.org and click on the Wheels for Warriors logo to fill out an application telling us a little about
yourself and your story.

After the application has been submitted, and your DD214 has been received, our Board of Directors will review the information provided and, if your application is selected you will be contacted directly. Application deadline is February 7. Please note this specific vehicle is a manual transmission/stick shift.

Band Of Brothers Outdoors is excited to announce that they are hosting several veterans outdoor trips this year.

Request a seat!

Pike Fishing on Mille Lacs Lake 2024
Mar 09, 2024, 7:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Isle, MN

Snobear Fishing Trip 2024
Mar 10, 2024 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Ortonville, MN

Bad River Bucks & Birds Turkey Hunt 2024
May 28, 2024, 4:00 PM – May 31, 2024, 8:00 AM
Bad River Buck & Birds, 27619 Hermann Ranch, Draper, SD

The best veterans outdoor recreational therapy | Band Of Brothers Outdoors Join us for Band of Brothers Outdoors events and support our mission to help veterans and service members through recreational therapy.

What do you do in Minnesota in the winter? ICE FISHING!!

Come join Sierra Club, Fjallraven and Baztec at Holland Lake (Eagan) for FREE Ice Fishing for Veterans and their families!

Saturday, February 10, 2024
Holland Lake - Fishing Pier
1100 Cliff Rd, Eagan MN 55123
1300 - 1500hrs

Free ICE FISHING for Veterans w/ Community Partners @ Holland Lake Attention Veterans! Come Ice fishing at Holland Lake with Sierra Club, Fjallraven St Paul, and BazTec!

Hello Military Families,

Ironwood Springs Ranch is extending an invitation for you to attend a Military Family Camp. Please see the dates and details below.

Ironwood Springs Christian Ranch’s Operation Welcome Home family retreats are faith-based military family weekends that are free to families and are intended to provide a fun, family-oriented retreat for families facing the challenges of military service and deployments. It is our way also to say thank you for what you do. These are all-inclusive retreats with lodging, meals, and activities provided.

You stay in our 27-room Miracle Lodge with private rooms/baths along with all of your linens/pillows/towels provided. We also have three new family-style cabins that just completed that allows us to expand the number of families and also to hold larger families. Activities includes things like zip lining, horse activities/riding, slip and slide, water games, archery/bb ranges, worship services, and much more. We have two retreats this year for families:

OWH Summer Family Camp: Mon, July 8-Wed July 10th

OWH Fall Family Camp: Fri, Oct 18-Sun, Oct 20

Due to the high demand, we have changed to an application process to allow more first-time families to attend. You will apply to attend and then will be sent an opportunity to register if you make it in. You can see more about these retreats and our other Operation Welcome Home retreats on our website below:

https://www.ironwoodsprings.com/military

POC: Tracy Bashore Executive Director [email protected] 507.533.4315 (w), 507.261.8949 (cell)

Ironwood Springs Christian Ranch Christian Camp/Conference Center with programs for youth, people with physical and/or cognitive disabilities, families with autism, and military families. We also integrate horses into all programs and offer trail rides and horse camps for youth.

Thanks to the Minnesota Department of Veteran Affairs, Camp Bliss has secured funding for future veterans' getaways at Camp Bliss!

They will not be charging a registration fee for Veteran Getaways for the next two years!

You may come up to two retreats per year between these dates: Sept 1, 2023-August 31, 2024 & Sept 1, 2024-August 31, 2025.

Veterans, we look forward to seeing you at Camp Bliss in the coming months. Don’t forget to check out our events calendar for upcoming getaways.

Questions? Give Lori a call at 320-281-2016
https://campbliss.org/all-events/

EMERGENCY BLOOD SHORTAGE: The Red Cross blood supply has fallen to critically low levels. Your blood or platelet donation is needed now to help alleviate the shortage and ensure lifesaving medical procedures are not delayed.

Don’t wait – sign up to donate: rcblood.org/donate

🎓 Exciting News! The Fisher House Foundation’s application cycle for the academic year 2024-2025 is now open!

This program aims to honor the outstanding achievements of our military children and provide essential educational support. 🌟

In its 24th year, this program has awarded over $23 million in scholarships.

🏅 **Scholarship Amount:** 500 scholarships for $2,000 each for the academic year 2024-2025.

🌟 **Who Can Apply:** Unmarried military dependent children under 23 with a valid Uniformed Services ID card. Parent(s)/Sponsor(s) should be active duty, reserve/guard, deceased, or retired from the various service branches.

📚 **Scholarship Criteria:**
- Enrolled or planning to enroll full-time in an undergrad program leading to a bachelor's degree or a community/junior college for direct transfer into a four-year program.
- High school applicants: minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale).
- College applicants: minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5.

📅 **Deadline:** February 14, 2024

All rules and requirements for the Scholarships for Military Children program, as well as links to frequently asked questions are available at militaryscholar.org

Share with any eligible military children you know! 🎓✨

Do you own a landscaping business?

Consider volunteering for Project EverGreen and the GreenCare for Troops program that mobilizes lawn and landscape services for military families when their loved one deploys.

Receive a $250 coupon for SiteOne Landscape Supply when you volunteer!

https://projectevergreen.org

SAVE THE DATE!!

MN National Guard Youth Programs Month of the Military Child Open House will be April 19, 2024.

You can order your t-shirts, begin working on your beautiful art for our contest, and snap some pics for the photo contest. See the flyers for details.

The fun is just beginning - more information will come in the following months.

Links to register for the wristband and build-a-bear will be live March 5!

Thank you to Support the Troops MN charity for supporting currently serving National Guard and Reserve military members and Veterans with emergency financial assistance!

If your are a currently serving National Guard or Reserve member living in Minnesota, you can request emergency financial assistance help through Minnesota Family Programs by calling 1-888-234-1274 and speaking with a Soldier and Family Readiness Specialist.

If you are a veteran, you can request emergency financial assistance help through your local County Veteran Service Officer. Find one near you here: https://www.macvso.org/find-a-cvso.html

American Forces Travel, supported by Priceline, is the U.S. Department of Defense official online leisure travel site for active military, Guard or Reserve, U.S. Coast Guard, Retired military, and all eligible MWR patrons.

While the travel is not free, you might find special deals that can help you travel for less.
https://www.americanforcestravel.com/

The 2024 Minnesota Fish Art Contest is still accepting submissions from all Minnesota students grades K-12 🎨

Do you have what it takes to create a reel-y great piece of art? You beta believe it! 🐠 Submit your original artwork of a fish species of your choice by February 28, 2024.

The Fish Art Contest, hosted by Minnesota Conservation Volunteer and Wildlife Forever, uses art, science, and creative writing to foster connections to the outdoors and inspire the next generation of stewards. Find out more about the guidelines and submit your work at tinyurl.com/FishArtContest.

Get your PADI Scuba certification using your MN GI Bill benefits at the Midwest School of Diving.

This is not the Federal GI Bill this is a stand-alone program supported and financed by the Minnesota Department of Veteran affairs. This program provides assistance to eligible Minnesota Veterans. which includes currently serving military, National Guard and Reserve members along with eligible spouse and
children (Chapter 33 or 35).

Minnesota Veteran is defined as having served in the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corp, Coast Guard or National Guard. Current National Guard and Reservists need lo either have a DD 214 or have served in the MN National Guard for at least 5 years. The program provides a maximum benefit of $10,000. Benefit are non-transferable, can only be used by service member.

https://mn.gov/mdva/resources/education/minnesotagibill/

Check out the Midwest School of Diving.

https://mwschoolofdiving.com/

Team Managers, team registration for the 2024 Minnesota Armed Forces Hockey tournament is now open!!

Team registration will remain open until 1 March 2024 or until we have reached our cap of 30 teams.

Team Managers can register right on the main page of www.mnarmedforceshockey.org on the link just under the tournament logo. Hurry, spots fill up fast!!!

Home UHL Armed Forces Hockey Tournament (UHL AFHT)

Military Community want to learn more about your Ancestry?

Ancestry database has more than 150 million military records are available.

Through the DOD MWR Military members and their families can gain FREE access to billions of names from more than 4,000 genealogical databases. Censuses from the U.S., Canada, United Kingdom and Ireland.

Fold3 allows users access to US military records, including the stories, photos and personal documents of those who served from the Revolutionary War onward.

🔗 Signup Now:

https://www.dodmwrlibraries.org/biography-genealogy

The Army Women’s Foundation Legacy Scholarship Program provides grants to women soldiers, past and present, and their lineal descendants to help them attain their educational goals.

Applicant must be a woman who has served or is serving honorably in the U.S. Army, U.S. Army Reserve or Army National Guard or the lineal descendant of a woman who has served or is serving honorably in the U.S. Army, U.S. Army Reserve or Army National Guard.

The AWF Legacy Scholarship Program offers financial support in four areas: Certificate Programs, Community College coursework, Undergraduate Degrees, and Graduate Degrees.

https://www.awfdn.org/scholarships/general-information/

It can be hard to open up—even to the people closest to you. Call on Military OneSource. We're here to listen and help you trek through tough times. It’s free, it’s 24/7 and it’s made for MilLife:

https://www.militaryonesource.mil/non-medical-counseling/military-onesource/military-counseling-for-stress/.

Military Counseling for Stress | Military OneSource Whatever’s weighing on you, you have expert support to help address it – free and confidential for service members and military families.

In 2023, the Beyond the Yellow Ribbon network welcomed four new members, including the YMCA of the North, Ryan Companies US, Inc., Mille Lacs Corporate Ventures – Grand Casino, and the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

From January to September 2023, the community network, comprised entirely of volunteers, coordinated more than 164 events, served at least 13,791 volunteer hours, and supported over 16,144 military community members.

Learn more: https://ngmnpublic.azurewebsites.us/beyond-the-yellow-ribbon-reflects-on-2023-looks-ahead-to-2024/

Check out this opportunity from the Freedom Fishing Foundation.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSca_QMLJhfKlg_eCrVjLqCl33gcFCgxJUzauW3eFSRHemPSUw/viewform

Free & open to the public!

🎉Come ring in the New Year at the Eagle's Healing Nest🎉

We'll be hosting a low-key, sober New Year's Eve bash here at The Nest, complete with movies, food, activities, music, and more. Activities start at 7pm - come and go as you please!