WHAT IS OPERATION PURPLE SUMMER CHALLENGE? 

Operation Purple Summer Challenge is a free, eight-week experience with weekly, self-paced challenges and live virtual gatherings for military kids ages 6 to 17 and their families. Families can participate in everything the Summer Challenge has to offer all summer long, OR they can join when they’re available just for the parts that are most exciting to them!

You can decide to participate in live programming this summer or your family can participate WITHOUT attending live sessions.

• Summer Challenge LIVE
  For kids ages 6-14 who want to participate in live weekly sessions (Adventure Clubs) AND complete independent and family challenges at their own pace outside of live sessions.
• Teen Challenge LIVE with ASAP
  For teens ages 15-17 who want to join live, virtual sessions about 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
  For kids ages 6-17, who want to participate at their own pace outside of the live sessions. They can do family challenges and extend independent challenges to younger or older children in the household. This program does NOT include any live, virtual sessions.
  

WHAT’S THE FAMILY FUN PACK?

This summer, NMFA will be sending Family Fun Packs to the families of the first 2,000 kids ages 6-14 whose families apply for the program. These Kits will contain everything you need to participate in challenges all summer long.

WHAT ARE THE LIVE SESSIONS? 

Adventure Clubs are weekly virtual sessions on Zoom for small groups of military kids led by one of our Good Guides. These sessions involve games, sharing, Summer Challenge motivation, and all the classic activities we love from 5 years of virtual programming.

HOW DO CHALLENGES WORK?

We’re providing families with over 40 hours of challenges and the opportunity to try out as few or as many as you like.

• Families can try our challenges, repeat favorites, and make up new challenges as they go.

• Every kid gets a “Challenge Tracker” to log every activity they complete all summer long – the more challenges they complete, the more opportunities to win prizes!

HOW DO WE EARN PRIZES? 

For every challenge you complete, you’ll receive an entry in our raffles for prizes at the end of summer.

Parents sign off on the challenges completed over the summer. Every kid whose grown-up submits a Challenge Submission form will be eligible for a small gift and our raffle for big prizes! On August 7th, winners will be announced! ​

WHO IS ELIGIBLE? 

Children of active-duty service members and veterans from all uniformed services, including the National Guard, Reserve, Space Force, the Commissioned Corps of the United States Public Health Service, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, may participate.

Challenges, live sessions, and prizes are designed for kids ages 6 to 14. Children outside of the age range and adult family members can join for family challenges and are eligible for family prizes. 

DOES MY CHILD HAVE A GUARANTEED SPOT AT OPERATION PURPLE SUMMER CHALLENGE? 

YES! All eligible military kids who complete the application can participate at no cost.

WHEN DOES THE APPLICATION OPEN?

The application for Operation Purple Summer Challenge is scheduled to open on March 11th, 2026. Families must register before May 10 to receive Adventure Kits prior to the first Adventure Club virtual session. The application will stay open until July 1st, 2026. Families can join anytime between these dates.

HOW DO I APPLY?

When the application opens on March 11th, you will find a link on the Operation Purple Summer Challenge webpage that will take you to the program application. You will complete the registration application with information about your family’s military connection, selected age group, and any additional requested information.

HOW WILL I KNOW THAT MY APPLICATION HAS SUCCESSFULLY PROCESSED?

Upon completion of the online application, you’ll receive a welcome email to your inbox. If you do not receive this message within a week, please contact us at summerchallenge@militaryfamily.org to confirm registration.

CAN MY CHILD APPLY FOR THE SUMMER CHALLENGE IF THEY HAVE APPLIED TO ANOTHER OPERATION PURPLE PROGRAM?

YES! All military kids can participate, even if they have applied to or attended another Operation Purple program.

WHY ARE THERE SO MANY QUESTIONS ON THE APPLICATION ABOUT MY MILITARY SERVICE AND MY FAMILY?

Each year, our team aggregates the information we gather across our many programs to better understand military families. NMFA uses this data to advocate for, support, and enhance the quality of life for the families who serve. Your responses are critical to NMFA and help us create, sustain, and grow great programs that positively impact military families like yours.

WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT AFTER I APPLY?

After submitting your application, you will receive a welcome email with information about the program.

On June 1, you’ll receive an email with the link to our 2026 Operation Purple Summer Challenge private webpage, which will have the challenges for this summer and important program information. If you are participating in live programming, you will also receive your Zoom registration link in this email.

Join our Operation Purple Family Connection Facebook group for regular updates, parent support, and to share photos of the challenges your adventurer(s) and family complete throughout the summer!

WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT ONCE THE OPERATION PURPLE SUMMER CHALLENGE BEGINS ON JUNE 1?

Adventurers can begin completing challenges!

If your adventurers have signed up for an Adventure Club, our virtual live sessions, you will receive a reminder email from your Good Guide, or live session leader.

If you’ve opted to do this program independently, you will NOT receive regular emails, but we encourage you to join our Operation Purple Family Connection Facebook group to connect with other participating families and to share the challenges that your family and adventurers are completing!

Kids have until July 31 to complete as many challenges as they can. An adult must complete a Challenge Submission form for each participating child by July 31 for them to be eligible for prizes.

On August 7, we’ll have our final Facebook Live to celebrate our summer. At this event, raffle winners will be announced, and highlights from the summer will be shared.

WHAT SUPPLIES ARE NEEDED TO PARTICIPATE?

• If attending live sessions, participants need a computer, tablet, or phone with internet and Zoom access to participate in activities and join weekly virtual sessions.

• Parent(s) need access to email to receive updates and communicate with program staff. They will also need access to a web browser to access our password-protected Participant Webpage.

• Participants need writing instruments and paper to engage in live virtual activities.

WHAT TECHNOLOGY IS REQUIRED?

• Computer, tablet, or phone to join weekly Adventure Club virtual sessions on Zoom. We encourage kids to be able to join with video and audio (listening and speaking) so they can fully participate.

• Weekly challenges may offer the opportunity to download other applications, travel to local destinations, or use supplies beyond writing instruments and paper. All of these are optional and not required for participation. If a challenge cannot be completed using items your family has on hand, please reach out to SummerChallenge@MilitaryFamily.org, and we will help you come up with an alternative activity.

• Adventure Clubs: Small groups of military kids that meet virtually on Zoom once a week with a Good Guide to do one challenge together, play games, celebrate challenge wins, and more.

• Adventurer: All registered military kids ages 6-14 are adventurers

• Challenges: Activities of various (including outdoors, service, STEM, stories, wellbeing) that kids ages 6-14 can do alone or with their family in 30 minutes to 2 hours.

• Challenge Tracker: A document that will be used to track the challenges completed by each Adventurer and will be used to receive participation and raffle prizes at the end of summer.

• Family Fun Pack: This is the package we send to each family (box or envelope) that includes supplies to use while completing challenges all summer long. NOTE: Kits are not required to participate. Challenges can be completed with no items or standard household items.

NMFA supports all military families and welcomes military family members regardless of race, age, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation and identity, mental or physical ability, economic status, differences of thought and expression, or any other characteristic that divides us.