News Release Distributed 02/11/11
Military families in Louisiana will hit the links on March 12 at The First Tee event at J.S. Clark Park in Baton Rouge.
Sponsored by Louisiana 4-H and BREC, the parks and recreational agency in East Baton Rouge Parish, the day will bring together children with a parent or parents in the military to learn valuable life and golf skills, organizers say.
4-H works with military families through the program Operation Military Kids. Caleb Persick, a graduate assistant with the program, says The First Tee event will give families an opportunity to meet up with other families in similar circumstances.
“When you’re deployed or when you travel as much as some of these kids and families, you’re changing jobs, changing schools, and it’s hard to make friends in those instances,” Persick said. “So we bring these kids and their families together.”
The day will start at 9 a.m., and participants will take part in games and activities on different holes, while also learning values.
“The event takes golf and pairs it with nine core values, such as honesty and integrity, things that you would want to teach kids at a young age,” Persick said.
Youth involved in Operation Military Kids already participate in camps and other activities, Persick said. The First Tee program is an additional way to help military families gather.
“Golf is just a great way to do it. You can go out there, have fun, and if you’re not so worried about getting the swing just right – you’re just out there to enjoy yourself – it will be a great opportunity,” Persick said.
Families from all branches of the military are welcome to attend the event. For more information, call 225-578-2196.
Tobie Blanchard