Operation Purple® Summer Challenge
Military Families Serve Too
Welcome to the Operation Purple Summer Challenge, NMFA’s summer-long virtual program that brings the fun and excitement of camp to families, wherever military life takes them. Our 2026 Summer Challenge “Military Families Serve Too”. Challenges include intentional skill-building and experiential learning in these specific areas::
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Resilience
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Connection
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Service
What Happens in the Operation Purple Summer Challenge?
The Operation Purple Summer Challenge is a FREE, eight-week virtual experience with self-paced challenges for military kids and their families, accompanied by live virtual gatherings to bring our community together. The Summer Challenge creates an environment where military kids can thrive in three ways:
- Exciting Activities for Anywhere:
With challenges that can be completed anywhere in the world with supplies that can be found around the home, our challenges are designed to engage kids ages 6-17 with the outdoors, service, STEM, stories, and well-being.
- Family Fun and Connection:
The Summer Challenge includes opportunities for your family to spend more meaningful time together. With 20+ family challenges and our Family Fun Pack, military families can explore, play, and celebrate together.
- Community Belonging and Friendships:
Our live virtual sessions called Adventure Clubs, are an amazing opportunity for military kids to have fun with peers who have shared experiences.
Who Can Participate?
All eligible military kids whose parent or guardian successfully completes the application will be accepted into the program at NO COST. The materials and small group live sessions for the 2026 Operation Purple Summer Challenge are focused on adventurers ages 6 to 17. Kids outside of the age range and adult members of the household can engage in the challenges with the Operation Purple Summer Challenge participant(s).
Ways to Participate
Your kids can participate in live, virtual sessions while they complete challenges this summer or your family can participate WITHOUT attending live sessions. This summer, when you apply, you’ll have the opportunity to choose which version of Operation Purple Summer Challenge works best for your family.
Summer Challenge LIVE
Families can sign their children ages 6-14 up for “Summer Challenge LIVE” to participate in weekly live video meetings (Adventure Clubs) with other military kids. They will also have access to complete independent and family challenges at their own pace outside of live sessions.
Teen Challenge LIVE with ASAP
This year, for teens ages 15-17, we are proud to launch “Teen Challenge LIVE with ASAP.” Teens will have the opportunity to join live, virtual sessions on Improv Comedy, Gaming, and/or Ukulele playing. Space is limited, and a waitlist will be available. Teens participating will also have access to complete independent and family challenges at their own pace outside of live sessions.
Summer Challenge at your Speed
Families who want to participate at their own pace outside of the live sessions can sign up their children age 6-17 for “Summer Challenge at your Speed.” They will have access to complete independent and family challenges at their own pace and can extend those challenges to younger or older children in the household. This program does NOT include any live, virtual sessions.
What’s Needed for the Summer Challenge?
Computer, Tablet, or Phone
If attending live sessions, participants will need a computer, tablet, or phone with access to Zoom to join weekly Adventure Club virtual sessions. Access to our Operation Purple Family Connection Facebook group is encouraged, but not required.
Writing Tools + Paper
Live activities often require paper and pencil to engage and complete. Any type of writing instrument is great!
What Does My Family Get If We Participate?
Thanks to our generous partners, NMFA will send Family Fun Packs to the families of the first 2,000 kids ages 6-14 whose families apply for the Operation Purple Summer Challenge. These Kits will contain everything you need to participate in challenges all summer long. NOTE: Kits are not required to participate. Challenges can be completed with no items or standard household items.
For each challenge completed, adventurers can earn entries into our raffles for prizes at the end of summer. To be eligible for prizes, a Challenge Submission form will need to be submitted for each participating adventurer by July 31.