Extreme Summer 2005 offers activities, prizes

  • Published
  • By Mandy Smith-Nethercott
  • USAFE Services
SEMBACH AIR BASE, Germany (USAFENS) --  The U.S. Air Forces in Europe Extreme Summer program, which officially runs from June 1 through Aug. 31, is holding early enrollment through May.

The Extreme Summer program encourages people to get involved in a variety of existing and new services and community activities, and it allows people to earn points by participating.

These points can be loaded onto the Extreme Summer website for chances to win more than $150,000 in prizes throughout the summer months.

All USAFE active duty military, Department of Defense civilians, and their family members 8-years old and above can participate in Extreme Summer. There will be four competition categories: youth 8-12 years old; teens 13-18 years old; E1-E5 and their spouses; and a category for E6-E9, all officers, civilians and their spouses.

During the three months of Extreme Summer, points can be earned for hundreds of activities, from logging a certain number of FitLinxx points to playing golf or taking an academic class. Going on trips, filling out book reviews at the library and volunteering all can translate to prize opportunities. A complete list of activities that count towards points is listed in the Extreme Summer magazine, available at base services facilities.

In addition to offering prizes and a host of summer activities, Extreme Summer 2005 also offers participants the opportunity to meet and interact with role models who will tour USAFE bases throughout the summer. Extreme Summer 2005 role models include a professional football player, a superhero, a real “survivor” and a storytelling team.

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald is coming to USAFE bases May 19-25 to promote the program. The record-holding rookie wide receiver will visit Aviano Air Base, Italy, May 19; Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, May 21; Lajes Field, Azores, May 23; and Moron AB, Spain, May 25.

U.S. Army drill sergeant and former member of “Survivor: Vanuatu – Islands of Fire” Lea ‘Sarge’ Masters will visit select bases in June.

Rounding out the role model tours in July will be storytellers James Bowen and Gaye Teipel, who tell stories intertwined with folk music. Superhero ‘Batman’ will tour in August.

All participants who sign up before May 31 will automatically receive 50 Extreme Summer 2005 points. Individuals that are interested in the program can visit the Extreme Summer website to enroll and load points.

Early enrollees also have the chance to win an extreme off-road adventure – a three day, all-expense paid trip for two to Jeep Jamboree at the Rubicon Trail at Lake Tahoe , Calif. Other winners get a trip for four to the Edelweiss Lodge and Resort in Garmisch , Germany .

Grand-prize winners for the youth and teen categories receive an all-expense-paid trip to Walt Disney World Resorts in Florida where they will visit all four Disney theme parks. Winners of the monthly, early enrollment and grand prize trips can take up to three family members or friends with them.

The top 3 percent of point earners in both adult categories combined qualify for a drawing to win a 2005 Jeep Wrangler.

Also for adults, four first-place winners will receive a three-day, four-night, all-expense paid trip for two to a NASCAR Nextel race at Atlanta Motor Speedway for the ultimate NASCAR racing fan experience. Winners will visit the pits, meet drivers and be treated to VIP seating.

For more information, contact your local Services squadron or check out the Extreme Summer website at www.extremesummer.com.