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Our mission is to serve the children of military personnel who have lost their lives on active duty while defending the United States of America.

ASC Camps

A Soldier’s Child (ASC) Foundation started in 2009 celebrating the lives of children who had lost a military parent by celebrating the child’s birthday. In 2010 we started conducting various camps to bring together children with the similar experience of losing a military parent.

ASC has accomplished this by creating a safe place for your kids. Our camps have shown that the ASC recipient children who attend our various camps have built lifelong friendships with other ASC recipient children.

How can ASC camps benefit your child?

Through our varied and numerous camps and mentorship programs, our goal is for your child to pursue adventure on their terms, build lifelong relationships, find healing, and hope for their hurting hearts.

The camps below are just a snapshot of the types of camps we conduct every year.  No matter the type of camp, ASC strives to make every camp “a safe place” for your child. During these camps, your child will realize that they are not alone in their life journey but that there are other kids just like them.  Our camps bring joy, laughter, adventure, creativity, a family atmosphere, engagement, leadership, character, integrity, and healing for all attendees.

Our camps help your child nurture social skills, build relationships, manage conflicts, enhance self-confidence, and learn how to work with other kids and adult mentors. Whether your child worked through homesickness or tackled an activity that pushed them outside of their comfort zone, they walk away from camp feeling a stronger sense of personal pride and healthy self-awareness. ASC believes the camp’s main purpose is to help your child discover and explore their interest, talents, self-worth, and values.

What if it says a camp is full, is there anything else I can do?
As you navigate our camp sign-ups and come across any camp that says it is full and you still desire your child to attend that camp, call our office. Especially if your child is new to that camp or any ASC camp, our goal is to give first dibs to the children who have never attended an ASC camp.

Journey Camp

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Journey Camp - July 6th-12th
Barefoot Republic Camp
8824 Brownsford Rd, Fountain Run, KY 42133
Journey Camp is our week-long (6 nights/7 days) flagship camp where your children come to a loving, safe environment where they can be themselves, let down their guard, trust, and receive love, honor, and hope. Journey Camp is where they spend 7 days with other children on the same personal journey in pursuit of adventure, building lifelong relationships, and seeking healing. Ages 9 - 17 can attend.

Hunting & Fishing Camps

Our numerous hunting and fishing camps educate our ASC recipient children on the knowledge of gun safety, gun care, enjoying the outdoors, and wildlife. ASC has numerous trained mentors who hunt and fish with our recipient children to ensure the best chance of harvesting a whitetail deer, quail, turkey, or catch that big fish. ASC’s goals are achieved under the supervision of certified professionals and the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency (TWRA) Officers.

Upcoming Hunting/Fishing Camps:

AXIS Deer Hunt – January 5th-10th, 2025
Camp Eagle, Texas
6424 Hackberry Rd, Rocksprings, TX 78880
PS23 male mentors will travel to Texas to hunt Axis Deer.

Magnificent 7 Hunt Camp – February 20th-23rd
Camp Marymount
1318 Fairview Blvd E, Fairview, TN 37062
This is a 3-night / 4-day camp where ASC children will hunt 7 different kinds of wild animals with our ASC mentors and the TWRA. Ages 9-17 can attend.

Quail Hunt – March 15th
JT Farms, 2818 Sanford Rd, Nolensville, TN 37135
This is a one-day local camp in Tennessee where ten local ASC kids will hunt Quail with dogs! This camp is for Tennessee ASC children or anyone willing to drive up for this one-day camp. Ages 10 – 18 can attend.

Boys Hog Hunt – March 24th-26th
This is a 3-day camp where PS23 male mentors will travel to Georgia to hunt wild hogs.

TWRA Fishing Day – June 10th
Shipwreck Cove Restaurant Elm Hill Marina
3361 Bell Rd., Nashville, TN 37214
A one-day local fishing tournament in Tennessee where ASC children will fish with a TWRA mentor. ASC children will enjoy learning and catching fish while hoping to be the one that catches the biggest fish. This camp is for Tennessee ASC children or anyone willing to make the drive for this one day camp! Ages 9 – 18 can attend.

Youth Hunt/Fish/Adventure Weekend – October 23rd-26th
Horton Haven Christian Camps
3711 Reed Harris Rd, Lewisburg, TN 37091
A 3 night /4 day camp. ASC children will enjoy a weekend of hunting whitetail deer and fishing. ASC children will hunt with our professional hunting mentors and fish with our professional anglers. Your child must be hunter safety certified. Ages 9 – 16 can attend.

Arts Camp

Our arts camp captures the world of culinary arts, cake decorating, pallet art, and photography for our ASC recipient children. Culinary arts class helps fuel a passion for learning the art of cooking and spending time in the kitchen. Cake decorating helps bring out the recipient children’s artistic ideas by designing and decorating their own cake. Pallet art brings out their artistic ideas and how to apply what they imagined on a pallet that they can be proud of. Photography class teaches each recipient child the basics of photography and the basics about the digital cameras they receive.

Upcoming Arts Camps:

Culinary Arts Camp - April 3rd-6th
Horton Haven Christian Camp
3711 Reed Harris Rd. Lewisburg, TN 37091
This is a 3-night  / 4-day camp in Tennessee where ASC children will learn how to prepare and cook various cuisines from local chefs. Ages 13 - 17 can attend.

Horse Camp

Our horsemanship camp is perfect for riders of all skill levels who love horses. Campers experience normal camp activities in addition to dedicated riding and horse-specific activities. Campers enjoy building new friendships, participating in camp-wide games, learning through one-on-one teaching, and just generally being a kid.

Upcoming Horse Camps:

Horse Camp - August 21st-24th
Camp Marymount
1318 Fairview Blvd E, Fairview, TN 37062
A 3-night /4 day camp in Tennessee. Your child will enjoy a weekend of horseback riding and other fun activities. Ages 10 - 17 can attend.

Parent Camps

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Mom's Story Study - August 7th-10th
Horton Haven Christian Camp
3711 Reed Harris Rd. Lewisburg, TN 37091

This is ASC's 5th Annual Story Study Retreat, The study is about: "locating your pain, knowing your story, finding your passion and purpose." Everyone does the 5-week Story Study together with JoJo Mackin via zoom meetings. You must be 100% committed to attending all five sessions and the Story Study Retreat in Nashville. Contact JoJo Mackin for more information about this retreat - 615-220-1600.

PS23 Leadership Program

PS23 is our leadership program designed for ASC young adults age 18 and older. Leaders attend conferences, counseling training, outback excursions, and special retreats empathizing in Christian principles and values as it relates to leadership and to our young adults' career paths. PS23 graduates are trained to help facilitate and serve as peer mentors at Journey Camp and other mini camps throughout the calendar year.