TABERNASH — During their two-weeks rotation at Snow Mountain Ranch, the 138th Civil Engineer Squadron from the Oklahoma Air National Guard out of Tulsa, Okla., built a handicap accessible shade shelter for Colorado-based nonprofit Adam’s Camp.

The shade shelter is located next to the Adam’s Camp outdoor gathering area and campfire pit and will help to shade the campers and families when they take a break from playing on the nearby playground.

The 138th Civil Engineer Squadron is training at Snow Mountain Ranch – YMCA of the Rockies through the Innovative Readiness Training program. Innovative Readiness Training is a Department of Defense program that works with all six reserve components to include the Air National Guard. The purpose of the program is to provide real-world training opportunities for our service members to prepare them for their wartime missions while simultaneously supporting the needs of America’s under-served communities.

The new shade shelter will help support the mission of both YMCA of the Rockies and Adam’s Camp. The mission of Adam’s Camp is to bring together dedicated families with outstanding professionals and volunteers to provide specialized therapy programs, family support and recreational camps for children and young adults with special needs.

More than 4,100 children and youth with disabilities have been helped since Adam’s Camp was founded 25 years ago. Adam’s Camp has a permanent facility at Snow Mountain Ranch – YMCA of the Rockies that includes a playground and outdoor gathering area. The new shade shelter constructed by the Oklahoma Air National Guard will provide a place of rest and much needed relaxation for families and campers. Karel Horney, Executive Director of Adam’s Camp, is excited about the addition of the shade shelter, saying “this shelter well represents the way this community comes together to strengthen the opportunities for our very special children and families. Many, many thanks to the Oklahoma Air National Guard!”

After their rotation is complete, some personnel from the 138th Civil Engineer Squadron will return home to Oklahoma to serve in the tornado recovery. The next rotation of Air National Guard will arrive at Snow Mountain Ranch on June 8. This rotation will consist of two groups, the 285th Civil Engineer Squadron from the St. Croix Virgin Islands Air National Guard and the 201st Red Horse Squadron from Fort Indiantown Gap Pennsylvania Air National Guard.