BOALSBURG — Crawling on your belly in the mud or standing at strict attention in the rain might not sound like a fun way to spend a Saturday, but for Noah Stewart, 10, that was part of what he enjoyed on Saturday as he participated in the inaugural Boot Camp for Kids at the Pennsylvania Military Museum in Boalsburg.
Noah, of Philipsburg, was one of about 30 children from ages 8 to 13 who participated in the boot camp, with activities that included marching, obstacle courses, compass use, map reading and various drill instruction exercises.
With excitement in his voice, Noah described crawling under a wire in the mud where he was instructed not to raise any of his body above the wire.
“I did it twice without lifting anything up over it,” he said.
For Brett Stewart, Noah’s father and a former U.S. Marine Corps sergeant, the event was a chance for Noah, who has always been enthusiastic about the military, to experience drill instruction firsthand.
“I hope he can get an understanding that not everything is easy,” Brett Stewart said. “I thought this would be something to challenge him.”
“In summary, we have three goals,” said museum educator Joe Horvath, officer in charge of the event. “We hope to teach them discipline and respect for rank, to pay attention to detail, and to work together as a team.”
Activities that help with these goals can be basic, Horvath said, including simply paying the proper respect to the American flag.
“The proper way for a civilian to pay respect to the flag when the colors are posted is to put a hand across the heart,” he said. “Some of our participants did not do that today, and that will be made known to them.”
“I think it gives the kids a bit of discipline,” agreed Diane Grieb, former Marine Corps member and commander of the Nittany Leathernecks, who was a volunteer drill instructor at the boot camp. “It’s a lot of fun, but the kids get a taste of what it is like in the military.”
Grieb said she was a fiscal accountant in the service, but she felt prepared to assist with drill instruction.
“I’m bossy,” she said with a laugh. “I get you to do the things I tell you to do. Isn’t that right?” she asked one boy who was participating.
“Yes ma’am,” the boy responded.
Horvath said the idea for the boot camp came from museum director Chuck Smith.
“He said we should do something like this for kids, but it has taken a couple of years to get the volunteers required,” he said.
Assisting with the boot camp were the Marine Corps League, Penn State Veterans and Troop 59 of Port Matilda who helped with map and compass exercises.
“We were pleased to help out,” said Kim Johnson, Troop 59 scoutmaster. “It was rainy, but it is always the challenging days that are the most memorable.”
