By Robert W. Mitchell
Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling Public Affairs
WASHINGTON - As we enter the hot summer month of July, participating in outdoor recreation programs and activities offered at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling (JBAB) might just be the ticket to keeping cool and staying active.
Three JBAB Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) organizations provide outdoor recreation trips and services: Information Tickets and Tours (ITT), Outdoor Recreation (ODR) and the Liberty Center.
For people looking to take a trip to an amusement park, ITT offers plenty of travel packages that include discounts for military, dependents, retirees, reservists and civilian workers employed by the Department of Defense (DOD), according to ITT Manager Nathaniel Roach.
“We offer tickets to popular places like Universal Studios and Disney World in Orlando. We also have packages for places like Legoland and Medieval Times,” he said.
Those with DOD-issued identification cards can take advantage of the discounted packages at JBAB’s ITT office, according to ITT assistant Carlene Stokes. Purchases must be made in person in order to verify the buyer’s eligibility for the discounted rate, she said.
“Now they have to be here to present their identification cards. As long as you get in the gate with a valid DOD I.D. card, you are eligible,” she said.
Trips to King’s Dominion, Busch Gardens and Water Country USA are among the most requested travel packages during the summer months, according to Stokes. Navy Chief Petty Officer Joseph Dusenberry often takes advantage of the vacation packages offered.
“This is a great asset to have because of the availability of the tickets. Every base we have been to, we have always utilized it for discounts and to learn about the local activities,” he said.
Dusenberry arrived at the ITT office in the morning to arrange a trip for himself, his wife and three sons.
“Today we are going to King’s Dominion. We were originally going to Six Flags, because the boys wanted to go. But none of us had been to King’s Dominion, so we are going there,” he said.
The JBAB Liberty Center, located at Enterprise Hall, offers unaccompanied enlisted military personnel (E1 to E6) the opportunity to participate in outdoor sports like white water rafting, hiking, camping and beach trips.
The center also provides trips to amusement and water parks.
“We have programs to get personnel out of the barracks. We have activities like paintball and other outdoor events for all branches of the military,” said Liberty Center recreation aide Marcus Ratley.
Liberty recently held an outdoor event on JBAB providing Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines free food, inflatable games and prizes. They came out to celebrate the center’s sixth anniversary.
The array of packages, trips and rental equipment at JBAB’s ODR, located at the Capital Cove Marina, provides plenty of options for summertime activity.
For water activities, ODR provides bass boats, sailboats, canoes/kayaks, ski boats and water skis among other items for rent.
For camping activities, it offers a hiking back pack, camping stove, tents, coolers, lanterns and grills for rent. Fishing licenses are available for JBAB residents and non-residents through ODR.
In addition to rental equipment, ODR offers boat recovery and member tug services and an orientation course, among other services.
The hot summer months also bring out cookouts and get-togethers and ODR provides rental agreements for anyone wanting to rent a picnic pavilion on base.
For more information, call ITT at 202-433-2269; ODR at 202-767-9136; and Liberty Center at 202-433-2636.