 Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States Department of Michigan |
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Day of Challenges is a one-day Michigan youth activity program sponsored by the Department of Michigan VFW with local support from VFW District 15 and area VFW Posts. Day of Challenges is hosted jointly by the Michigan Tech Army and Air Force ROTC units. The University Army ROTC 3rd year cadets plan, organize and conduct the challenge events as a graded leadership development exercise. They receive support in this exercise from Air Force and Army ROTC student volunteers who serve as team leaders, scorekeepers and facilitators. Professional Army and Air Force Staff supervise the planning and execution of the Day of Challenges along with the VFW Program Director. The program is designed to challenge teams in physical fitness, coordination and leadership as a group. The Junior Division (middle school grades 5, 6, 7 and 8) and Senior Division (high school grades 9, 10, 11 and 12) teams are limited to 6 members. Disability is accepted in team memberships. A maximum of 30 teams may compete in the Day of Challenges due to facility constraints. Events included are fitness test, obstacle course, raft race, relay race, swimming and tug of war. Leadership reaction is tested on each team using limited equipment to solve a simulated hazardous scenario. The Program is marketed by mailings to school principals with return mail and on-line registration from those schools desiring to participate. Team(s) represents their schools, with some arriving by school bus. For teams traveling great distances overnight “camping” accommodations may be available on campus. Team event awards will be presented in each Division. The top scoring team in each Division will be presented with an engraved traveling trophy that can be displayed in their school until next year’s Day of Challenges. In addition, all team participants will receive a Day of Challenges Certificate of Completion, a Medallion, a custom tee shirt and a VFW State Commander’s Pin. The Iron Boy trophy is awarded to the top scoring boy and the top-scoring girl is awarded the Iron Girl trophy. The Department of Michigan pays for all awards and the hot meals for the 200 plus youth participants and an estimated 50 ROTC cadets. VFW Posts sponsoring a Day of Challenges team can receive report credit for Youth Activities and Community Service. One (1) point will be awarded in the All-State Program for donations of $25.00 or more to the Day of Challenges program and up to a maximum of four (4) points for donations of $1.00 per member. Donations must go through Department Headquarters.
Butch Paavola, Director
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