Marine Military Academy Summer Camp

...Make the Connection!

Camp Dates: 3 July - 31 July 2010

Summer Camp at the Marine Military Academy (MMA), Harlingen Texas, gives a young man the opportunity to learn what it takes to stand up to "his full capacity." Life is calling ....Will you make the connection?

MMA is the only military school in the world patterned after the time-honored traditions of the Marine Corps. Just as in the Marine Corps, there are many factors that make an individual successful.

Click Here to watch a short summer camp video.

The Activities
Carpe Diem-seize the day! That certainly is the philosophy at MMA summer camp. Each young man soon discovers what really counts is not just how many hours you put in each day, but what you put into each hour you have in a day.

Summer camp should be exciting yet not a time to stop learning . Campers experience first hand how important it is to participate in team sports as they realize that interpersonal relationships, whether in sports or any other areas of life, are based upon mutual respect and trust.

Team sports are an essential part of the fun/learning concept. Summer camp activities turn an ordinary summer into an extraordinary adventure. The "Iron Man" activity combines team competition that requires campers to negotiate eight to ten physical obstacles which include a mud course, paint ball competition, obstacle course, fireman's carry, rifle range, and other individual events located throughout the campus. The Military Department utilizes the Leadership Enhancement And Development (LEAD) Complex to develop individual confidence, promote physical endurance and mental sharpness, provide intense hands-on leadership learning experiences that emphasize fast decision-making, enhance team-based problem solving capabilities, and strengthen rapid and focused leadership techniques. The complex includes a rappelling and climbing tower, a Challenging Opportunities for Personal Experience (COPE) course, a full-sized Marine Corps obstacle course, a Leadership Reaction Course and a pugil stick pit. COPE is a series of team problem solving obstacles designed to increase the participant's sense of personal confidence, increase mutual support within the group, develop an increased level of agility and physical coordination and is definitely a real confidence builder. Boxing smokers supervised by certified and licensed boxing instructors and medical personnel are a summer tradition at MMA.The Academy also has a Paint Ball Course, a Confidence Course, a Mud Infiltration Course, a boxing and judo gym, and other fitness facilities.

In addition to the inter-unit athletic competition involving flag football, soccer, softball, dodge ball, volleyball, swimming, circuit course training and basketball to mention a few and what would a summer be without ice cream? MMA summer camp activities definitely adds a lot of adventure into each day.

The Training
A young man soon discovers that the MMA summer camp routine is anything but ordinary. In order to prepare him for the inevitable challenges in life, he will have a structured environment with opportunities to strengthen his physical and mental capabilities. Although the training can be exhausting when they have just completed a hike or the obstacle course, the campers gain confidence from completing a difficult, challenging task. They also learn the importance of teamwork. The following types of military training are an integral part of each campers day:

• Marine Corps style obstacle course
• Mud course ( a series of obstacles usually involving water and mud must be negotiated)
• Paintball
• Rifle range
• Pugil stick bouts (similar to Marine Corps boot camp training and supervised by Marine Corps instructors).

All of these events increase the physical and mental confidence each camper possesses at summer camp, the training is designed to prove that a young man's reach should and can exceed his grasp!!

The People

A young man at MMA summer camp soon discovers that each member of the summer camp staff has been chosen because they are knowlegeable, experienced and know how to demonstrate, through example, what it takes to be a leader. They are made up of reserve and retired Marines or qualified athletic coaches who have spent years as instructors of young men. Each summer, members of the academic and athletic departments augment the military staff during summer camp to provide technical expertise where required. The campers are assigned to companies, usually consisting of about 65-70 campers each, and further assigned to platoons of 33 to 35 campers. Company assignments are based on age. Each company is headed by a retired Marine Staff Non-commissioned Officer (Drill Instructor). The Drill Instructors live in close proximity to their campers, and they strive to teach, provide discipline and help each young man leave summer camp with a greater awareness of what he is capable of achieving with his own unique talents and abilities. Although the facilities at MMA are first-class, the activities are exciting and numerous, and the food is darn good, none of that really matters without the discovery that the people here at MMA care. They care that each camper has fun, learns self-discipline, confronts and deals positively with adversity, and experiences the taste of personal success.

The Results

The goal of the Marine Military Academy summer camp is for each camper to leave standing a little taller and a little straighter because he has achieved a great feeling of accomplishment. Parents often remark how much taller their sons seem in just a few short weeks. It is not just in inches, it's that moment when he gave his full effort, he was stretched to his full capacity, and he stood to his full stature.....and it felt good.

ARE YOU PREPARED FOR THE CHALLENGE?

ARE YOU READY TO MAKE THE CONNECTION?

Information Request

A Summer Camp Testimonial...(adobe acrobat reader is required)