"As you can see we do many things to stress the importance of the Six Pillars!" says Youth Development Specialist Tammy Charette. These activities include:

• Character Cash - Caregivers hand out this "cash" to kids caught doing something good.
• CHARACTER COUNTS! Rallies - These rallies take place every other month and feature a fun activity for kids. Afterwards, the children spend their character cash on prizes.
• CHARACTER COUNTS! Scavenger Hunt - Caregivers ask questions about the Pillars and give character cash to kids who answer correctly.
• CHARACTER COUNTS! Bingo - Instead of prizes, kids win character cash.
• "Sew Let's Make a Difference Week" at the Middle School Summer Camp - The children made 40 sets of hats and scarves, and gave personal hygiene products to the local woman's shelter. During this week they also bought video games, crayons and activity bags for the pediatrics ward. "We stress good character not only during camp week, but every day," says Ms. Charette.
• Goodie Bags - Kids put these bags together for the Salvation Army to hand out at Thanksgiving dinner.
• Needy Family Project - During the holidays children collect non-perishable items for needy families.
• "Happy Hat" Program - The kids make hats to give to sick children in hospitals.
• Award Ceremonies - Every quarter these events honor youth who volunteer their time for worthy events.
• Skit - The staff and youth plan a skit on black inventors for Black History Month.
• Puppet Show - Youth plan a puppet show for elementary school kids during Dental Health Month.
• Gift Christmas Ornaments - Kids make Christmas ornaments for senior citizens in nursing homes.
• Park Sprucing - Children clean the local park for Let's Make a Difference Day.

Fort Drum also offers many CHARACTER COUNTS!-related family programs.