Operation Purple® Camp

NMFA will only accept one Operation Purple Camp application per child.
You may not apply for both in-person and at-home camp. You must choose one.

Summer Camp Just for Military Kids

Operation Purple® Camp offers military kids a free week of camp where they connect with other kids, just like them. At Operation Purple Camp, we know military kids serve too®!

Children from all uniformed services, including National Guard, Reserve, Space Force, and the Commissioned Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and United States Public Health Service may apply.

What can my Child Expect at Camp?

When your military child attends Operation Purple Camp, they’ll enjoy a true summer camp experience, complete with arts and crafts and outdoor activities, like ropes courses, canoeing, swimming, archery, and climbing walls. Campers will thrive in an environment with fully trained counselors and camp staff experienced in helping children adapt and overcome the stressors of military life.

By meeting kids like them, campers make life-long friends who understand what it’s like for a parent to serve in the military. Campers are encouraged to celebrate the sacrifices they make and be proud of their role as a military kid!

Operation Purple Camp at Home

Not close to an Operation Purple Camp location?

Let us introduce you to Operation Purple Camp at Home—the home version of our popular Operation Purple Camp for military kids! That’s right: your child will experience the fun and magic of summer camp…from the comfort of home. Campers will receive a special “camp in a box” delivered to their doorstep that includes fun, outdoor gear to use for each day’s activities and virtual experiences!

Why is it Purple?

Purple happens to be the perfect mix of Army green, Coast Guard blue, Air Force blue, Marine Corps red, and Navy blue. In the military world, purple symbolizes all who serve, and at our Association, we know military kids serve, too!

Operation Purple camp has served more than 64,000 military kids since its inception in 2004, and the memories made last a lifetime. You’ll never forget the pride on their face when they return home from camp, and they’ll never forget this amazing experience.