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Volume 26, May 2015

The Travel Issue

SOLDIER & FAMILY TOOLKIT 1/34 ARMORED BRIGADE COMBAT TEAM

Free SeaWorld

Admission

Page 4

Free Gunflint Trail

Vacation

Page 12

Camps

For Military Youth

Page 8

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The intent of this toolkit is to provide you with available events, deals, resources, and important information. Please take a few minutes to glance at these resources and visit a few sites!

IN THIS ISSUE 3 BEYOND THE YELLOW

RIBBON EVENTS & DEALS

4 WAVES OF HONOR

5 DISNEY TICKETS

6 MWR RESORTS

8 YOUTH CAMPS

9 MILITARY ONESOURCE ARTICLE

12 GUNFLINT LODGE

13 NORTH COUNTRY LODGE

14 OUTWARD BOUND

15 HEALTHY MONEY HABITS

17 RESOURCE LINKS

18 FAMILY ASSISTANCE CENTERS

“LIKE” 133RD AIRLIFT WING PASSENGER TERMINAL ON FACEBOOK TO LEARN

ABOUT SPACE AVAILABLE FLIGHTS

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Check out the Beyond the

Yellow Ribbon website and

sign up for exclusive email

updates on monthly local

Beyond the Yellow Ribbon

events and deals.

HOME FRONT EVENTS & DEALS

www.BeyondTheYellowRibbon.org

Stars on Ice - Special Offer for Military Families When: May 4, 4 p.m. Offer expires on April 25, 2014 Where: Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul About: Meryl Davis and Charlie White returned from the Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, with the United States’ first ice danc-ing gold medal in history. Stars on Ice, featuring Davis and White along with their bronze medal winning teammates from the inaugu-ral Olympic figure skating team event, will visit Saint Paul on Sunday, May 4 for a 4 p.m. performance at Xcel Energy Center. More Info: Website A Tribute to Women Veterans When: May 10 5:30 p.m. Women veterans get together 7 p.m. A Tribute to Freedom concert Where: North Heights Lutheran Church, Arden Hills Campus About: A tribute to recognize and honor women veterans and Ser-vicemembers for their service and sacrifice, and connect them with available resources. More Info: Flyer Tool Expo for NCSRCC Union Carpenters & Veterans When: May 14, 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Where: Carpenters Local Union 322 Training Center, St. Paul About: Current National Guard Servicemembers and veterans who are interested in a carpentry career and/or joining the Carpenters Union, are invited to attend the Carpenter Expo, hosted by the Twin Cities Apprenticeship Committee. More Info: Flyer Website Joining Community Forces - Minnesota Meeting When: May 17, 8 a.m. Where: University of Minnesota, Duluth About: You are cordially invited to Joining Community Forces - Min-nesota. The goal of JCF-MN is to collaborate and synchronize com-munity resources to support veterans, Servicemembers and their families. This will be accomplished by educating the participants on federal, state and community resources. More Info:Save the Date,AgendaandHow to Register

Old Glory Run When: May 17, 2014 Where: Cold Spring Baseball Park, Cold Spring About: The Old Glory 5K Run/Walk is for everyone at all levels of running and walking. By simply participating, you are showing that you support our troops, veterans, and our freedom. More Info: Flyer Free Drop-In Legal Clinic for Veterans When: May 22, 2014 Where: American Legion, West Duluth, Post 71 About: The Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans invites you to participate in a free drop-in legal clinic. The legal clinic will cover child support and family, employ-ment, benefits, expungement, debt collection, and wills. More Info: Flyer Memorial Service Honoring our Vietnam era Veterans When: May 26, 11 a.m. Where: Chester Bird American Legion, Golden Valley About: Please join the Chester Bird American Legion for a memorial service honoring our Vietnam era veterans. All veterans, family, and the public are invited to this very important event. More Info: Flyer Memorial Day Parade and Memorial Service When: May 26, 9:30 a.m. Where: Parade will travel along Southview Blvd, South Saint Paul About: The South St. Paul American Legion and VFW will sponsor a Memorial Day parade on Monday, May 26. Following the parade, a memorial service will be con-ducted at 10:15 a.m. around the Veterans Monument in Oak Hill Cemetery. More Info: Flyer

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MILITARY YOUTH CAMPS

This is only a portion of the wonderful opportunities that are offered to our

youth! Be sure to check out

www.beyondtheyellowribbon.org/youth-camps

Contact Laura 651-268-8695 or Moriah 651-268-8378

For any questions about

Tween Overnights Military youth ages 9-13 can spend the night at the Minnesota Zoo and other fantastic locations to network with other military teens and learn how animals are resilient. May 29-30, Minnesota Zoo, Apple Valley September 5-6, Mall of America Sea Life Aquarium Defending the Blue Line Youth Hock-ey Camps Nearly a dozen camps, located throughout the nation, are available for free or at a discount for military youth. The camps are one of many ways Defending the Blue Line ensures that chil-dren of Servicemembers are afforded every op-portunity to participate in the game of hockey. Check the website for dates: http://www.defendingtheblueline.org/programs/camps/ MN Elks Youth Camp Campers will go fishing, play mini golf, go bik-ing, kayaking, swimming, participate in archery, and other great activities at camp. July 12-18, Nisswa, MN.

Teen Summit Teens will participate in unique team-building activities, attend fun engaging leadership work-shops, participate in a service learning project, and go on an outing. June 26-28th in the Metro Teen Panel The goal of Teen Panel is to build resiliency through empowering teen participants in devel-oping leadership skills, learning teamwork strat-egies and giving back to the communities. July 30th-August 1st. Camp Corral Camp Corral provides kids non-stop fun with activities like canoeing, swimming, fishing, arts and crafts, ropes course challenge, archery, and horseback riding. June 7-12 in Lake Park, MN. National Guard Youth Camp Ages 10-15 gather on Camp Ripley, Minnesota National Guard Youth Camp. The youth spend seven days experiencing Camp Ripley and its surrounding. Camp is not a "boot camp". Ac-tivities include, biking, archery, orienteering and night vision goggles. Cost is $100-150. Week 1: 26 July - 1 August Week 2: 2-8 August.

Operation Purple Camp

Campers will participate in camp activities such as mili-tary day, bonfires, swimming, fishing, camper games, and

other fun activities

Dates: July 12 to 17, 2015.

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MILITARY ONESOURCE:

USING MILITARY LODGING FACILITIES FOR LEISURE TRAVEL

One of the most attractive benefits available to service members and their families is the use of military lodging facilities and resorts around the world. Most military members are familiar with the lodging facilities they visit on a temporary assignment, but military lodging can also mean cottages on the beach, world-class resorts or recreational facili-ties specifically for vacationing military families. Learning about these facilities can help you save money and provide a selection of safe and fun places to stay while you travel.

Available Facilities

Military lodging facilities run the gamut from modern resorts to mountain cottages. There are limited-service hotels built specifically for families arriving at a new duty sta-tion as well as full-service recreational facilities. Here are the types of facilities you can expect to find:

Installation lodging - These facilities are generally designed for service members traveling on official business or families with permanent change of station orders. Lo-cated mostly on military installations, these facilities will usually take vacationers on a space-available basis, but you may not be able to make advance reservations.

Recreational facilities - Built to serve service members and their families for short or long getaways, these may range from a lodge on a mountain lake to an oceanfront cottage in Hawaii. Many recreational facilities offer rental equipment, fishing char-ters, tours or other services specific to the area, usually at an economical rate. Eligible personnel can make reservations, but availability varies from facility to facility.

Resorts - With first-class amenities, these facilities offer a true resort experience. Military resorts are located in popular vacation destinations such as Disney World® and Hawaii, and in areas with a large military presence, such as Japan, Korea and Germany. You can usually make reservations, but timing is critical. If you plan to travel during peak periods, make your reservations as far in advance as possible. Rates are based on rank and duty status and are generally far lower than comparable civilian lodging.

Nongovernment-owned hotels - Managed by organizations serving the military community, hotels such as the Marines' Memorial Club in San Francisco (800-562-7463) or the Soldiers', Sailors', Marines', Coast Guard and Airmen's Club in New York (800-678-8443) serve active duty and former service members. These clubs are not mil-itary lodging facilities but private nonprofit organizations.

How to use military lodging

Knowing the ins and outs of using military lodging is the key to saving money on your

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MILITARY ONESOURCE:

USING MILITARY LODGING FACILITIES FOR LEISURE TRAVEL

Military Lodging Around the World

The list of military lodging facilities is long and facilities vary widely. Here's just a sampling of what you can find around the world: East Coast - Shades of Green Resort, an AFRC located at Disney World® in Florida, offers reasonably priced rooms for service members. Guests enjoy easy access to Disney theme parks and all the perks that come with staying at a Disney resort. For more information, call 888-593-2242.The Coast Guard maintains a cabin on Cape Cod and another one on Nan-tucket, which are available to all active duty service members and their families, as well as reservists and retirees. Visit Coast Guard MWR Recreational Lodging. Fort Fisher Air Force Recreation Area, near Cape Fear, North Carolina, offers beach cottages and a lodge. Call 910-458-6549 for details. West Coast - Seward Resort in Alaska is open year-round with recreational activities for military families. Call 800-770-1858 for more information.The Marine Corps operates Big Bear Recreation Facility near ski resorts in Big Bear, California. Summer activities include mountain biking, hiking and fishing. Call 858-577-4126 for details. Central states - In Missouri, the Army manages Lake of the Ozarks Recreation Area, with lakefront cabins and motel rooms along with boat and Jet Ski rentals. For more details, call 573-346-5640. Hawaii - The Hale Koa Hotel, an AFRC on Waikiki Beach, is a favorite military resort desti-nation. Because of its popularity, the Hale Koa is often filled to capacity, but reservations may be made up to 365 days in advance. Call 800-367-6027 for more information. By con-trast, the Kilauea Military Camp, a Joint Services Recreation Center in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, is one of the military's best-kept secrets. Mountain cottages, along with local tours, are available. Call 808-967-7315. Europe - Edelweiss Lodge and Resort, an AFRC in Germany, serves military personnel with hotel rooms and cabins. Call (011-49) 8821-9440 from the United States. Asia - On Okinawa, Okuma Joint Services Recreation Center offers log cabins, hotel rooms and a campground. Two beautiful beaches, along with scuba diving, Jet Ski rentals, and kay-ak rentals are available. In Seoul, South Korea, the Dragon Hill Lodge is a world-class hotel with resort amenities and excellent shopping nearby. Dragon Hill Lodge is an AFRC too! You can also plan your vacation at the New Sanno Hotel, a Joint Services facility operated by the Navy in Tokyo, Japan.

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MILITARY ONESOURCE:

USING MILITARY LODGING FACILITIES FOR LEISURE TRAVEL

How to use Military Lodging

Knowing the ins and outs of using military lodging is the key to saving money on your vaca-tion. Reservation windows vary by facility and duty status, so do your research well in ad-vance: Eligibility - Most military lodging is available to active duty service members and their

families, retirees, Guard and reserve members, and Department of Defense civilians. However, rules vary by service branch and individual lodging facility. Your status (active duty on orders, active duty on leave, family member, retiree, reservist or DoD civilian) will usually determine when and how your reservations can be made.

Vacation savings - Compare the costs of the military lodging options in the area you want to visit, find out if rooms are available or when reservations can be made, and check your eligibility. You'll often save money by using the restaurants, rentals, tours and other services available at the lodging facility.

Reservations - In most cases, reservations should be made directly with the lodging facili-ty. Each facility has its own reservation procedures. In many installation-lodging facilities, active duty military members on orders can reserve rooms in advance, while leisure travel-ers may rent rooms on a space-available basis only. Recreational facilities generally let lei-sure travelers make reservations far enough ahead to organize a vacation. Military resorts and Armed Forces Recreation Centers allow eligible guests to make reservations as much as a year in advance. See "Planning your getaway" below for contact information.

Planning your Getaway

You can research military lodging in the area you want to visit, including amenities and res-ervation policies: Do research to find the right military lodging facility. If you want more infor-

mation or help researching your options, call Military OneSource and speak with one of our consultants at 800-342-9647.

Use military lodging and service branch websites. Visit Army MWR, Marine Corps Community Services, Navy Lodges or Air Force Services.

Find the best time to go. If you plan to visit a popular recreational facility or resort during peak vacation periods, make your reservations as soon as possible. Some lodging facilities prioritize reservations by branch of service, duty station or status.

Take advantage of leisure services. Many facilities offer services such as restau-rants, boat rentals, ski equipment rental, area tours and discount tickets to area attrac-tions. Find out about available services and if reservations should be made in advance.

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Free Veterans’ Day Vacation Gunflint Lodge

Grand Marais, MN November 8th-13th

We invite all Veterans, plus their spous-es and children, to join us for up to a five night vacation at no cost as our

thank you for your commitment to our country. We offer you accommoda-tions, all your meals and our guided

naturalist activities.

If you join us, please provide us proof that you were an active duty Soldier serving in either Iraq or Afghanistan.

If others want to contribute, we will see

that the children receive special gifts during their visit.

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Where does travel fit into Healthy Money Habits? It is important to have fun with money and it is good to have goals to focus on.

We are in the process of becoming debt-free, so vaca-tions have been on hold since college, with a few small exceptions. As we see the light at the end of our tunnel, we are starting the conversation about our first family vacation. We both like the idea of Europe and some sort of Disney vacation.

I was five when The Little Mermaid came out in the thea-ters. I remember being enamored by the commercials. The first movie I saw in theaters was Beauty and the Beast. Is it a coincidence that my daughter’s name is Belle? I have always wanted to take a Disney trip. The happy faces on my TV during the Christmas and Easter Parades proved that Disney was the happiest place on earth. The problem is that I despise hot weather, theme parks, beaches, and crowded places in general. Did I mention we have two toddlers and hope to grow our family soon?

My solution is a European Disney Cruise. Disney has four ships based out of the Caribbean. Two spend their summers abroad. One goes to Alaska via the Panama Canal and the other goes to Europe. The Transatlantic cruises are a steal compared to the Caribbean at about half to a third of the price per night, compared to the Caribbean, but the trips are two to three times as long, so the price can add up quickly. For my family of four (two adults and two toddlers) the cost of the fourteen night Transatlantic cruise is $3,700, compared to the seven night Caribbean cruises offered that week for an average of $4,000. That averages $66 per person per night including food, childcare, and The best part is that they offer childcare on ship so Mom and Dad can go on adventures and have fancy dinners.

Due to military training, we won’t be able to go until

2015, but it is awesome to think about.

First printed in May of 2014.

HEALTHY MONEY HABITS

VACATIONS CRISTY HOUSE –NORTHERN MN FRSA

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Ever since I was an exchange student for a week in France, I have been obsessed with going back to Europe. Now that we have two kids and would love to go on a Disney Cruise, I am determined to figure out how to make it work. Previously, I wrote about being able to take my Family of four on a fourteen night Transatlantic Disney Cruise for $3,700. Unfortunately, the flights would be another $4,000+. I was also not very thrilled about the idea of only getting to see Spain when we landed at the airport. I did some research and figured out how we could have a 32 day vacation for about the same price and see several countries. Day 1: Leave Minneapolis and board the plane to Germany. Condor Airlines offers direct flights to Frank-furt from Minneapolis for just over $400. They also offer flights to Munich for $500 with a layover in Frankfurt. The other airlines require multiple stops and tickets are in the $1-2,000 range. Total flight cost for four $2,000.

HEALTHY MONEY HABITS EUROPE ON $50 A DAY

CRISTY HOUSE NORTHERN MN FRSA

Day 2-16: Arrive in Munich and go to Edelweiss MWR Resort. They currently have a meals & lodging special for two adults & kids at the rank of E1-E6 for $136 per night. We would choose their cabin option to save money at a cost of $900 for two weeks. Since we will have small kids with that tend to graze all day, we are budgeting $800 for food. We are also budgeting $300 for activities. I think we will probably decide to spend much more. Total Cost: $2000 Day 17: Fly to Barcelona for $200. It would be wise to spend the night before the cruise leaves to avoid any delays. I am hoping we could do this for $300. Day 18-32: 14 night Transatlantic Disney Cruise. $3,700. Fly from Florida to Minneapolis. $500. Total flight cost: $2,700. Total Lodging/Meals/Activities: $6,000= Under $50/person per day. USA Today estimates that a basic seven day trip for two adults to Europe costs about $2,000 per week plus air-fare. We are able to do our first two weeks for four people for $2,000 total. Some other money savers are using frequent points to pay for flights home and using points from Disney codes towards the cruise. My numbers are just estimates and are greatly impacted by fuel prices and exchange rates. The truth is they could go up or down at a moment’s notice. Using frequent programs can lower the cost of things like the flight home. Our cabin in Germany has a kitchen, so I anticipate that are food prices would be minimal on days we cooked in our cabin and more expensive when we ate out. Having preschoolers minimizes the chances of going out to eat very much. When I travel, I also like to eat street food, lowering the food cost. We aren’t sure what the cost of incidentals on the cruise ship will be for our day trips off ship, but don’t expect them to be much since we will eat breakfast and dinner on ship. I have no idea if we will actually get to take this trip, but it is sure fun to think about.

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RESOURCE LINKS ARMY / NATIONAL GUARD minnesotanationalguard.com armyonesource.com militaryonesource.mil CHILDREN ADAPT: cehd.umn.edu/fsos/adapt operationwearehere.com mnchildcare.org ausa.org/family mdva.state.mn.us/child guardfamilyyouth.org militarykids.org DISCOUNTS beyondtheyellowribbon.org military.com/discounts/category EDUCATION education4military.com gibill.va.gov militaryonesource.mil militarychild.org EMPLOYMENT esgr.org mn.gov/deed FMLA: dol.gov/whd/fmla HEALTH / MENTAL HEALTH tricare.mil militarymentalhealth.org Counseling 24/7: militaryonesource.mil MARRIAGE AND RELATIONSHIPS Marriage Retreats: strongbonds.org militaryonesource.mil PARENTS OF SOLDIERS bluestarmoms.org operationwearehere.com/Parents.html PET CARE dogsondeployment.org netpets.org guardianangelsforsoldierspet.org SPOUSES & SIGNIFICANT OTHERS militarysos.com spousebuzz.com milspouse.com msccn.org nationalmilitaryspousenetwork.org STRESS MANAGEMENT militaryonesource.mil defense.gov/specials/stressawareness

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