FORT DRUM, N.Y. (April 1, 2026) -- Between Easter activities, Mountain Wellness Month and a celebration for military children, April is shaping up to be a busy month at Fort Drum. During the monthly Community Information Exchange on April 1, representatives from several installation organizations provided updates on the month’s happenings.
Col. Jason Adler, Fort Drum garrison commander, kicked off the forum by commending Soldiers with B Company, 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, for leading the installation in contributions to the Army Emergency Relief campaign.
He also encouraged community members to use the My Army Post app (MAPA) to stay informed and connected to Fort Drum.
“Everything that we’re going to talk about here, you’re going to see on the My Army Post app,” he said. “That will take you everywhere you need to go.”
Ice Cream and Easter Eggs As the weather warms, Fort Drum FMWR announced the reopening of Mountain Peak Ice Cream. The parlor, located at The Peak, offers a variety of sundaes, soft serve and hard ice cream, milkshakes and more. April hours of operation are 3 to 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 1 to 9 p.m. Saturday, and 1 to 8 p.m. Sunday.
Over at the Robert C. McEwen Library, children 12 and younger can participate in an Easter Egg Hunt from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. April 3. Easter baskets are optional, and participants who find a golden egg will receive a special prize.
There is another Easter Egg Hunt for children at The Exchange, from 10 a.m. to noon April 4. Additionally, children can have their pictures taken with the Easter Bunny from noon to 2 p.m. April 4-5 (please bring your own camera).
Honoring the Military Child April is designated as Month of the Military Child (MOMC), and several events are planned at Fort Drum:
*MOMC Carnival: From noon to 8 p.m. April 25 at the Youth Center. The event is intended for youths in 6th through 12th grade. For more information, call (315) 772-6719.
*MOMC and Earth Day Celebration: Mountain Community Homes invites residents to the Crescent Woods Community Center from 10 a.m. to noon April 18.
*USO Purple Up Day: Fort Drum families are invited to the USO Center from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on April 15 for a MOMC activity.
*USO Ice Cream Social: From noon until 5 p.m. April 17.
Community updates The Fort Drum School Liaison Office and Child and Youth Services is facilitating a parent orientation to prepare children for kindergarten at the School Age Center on Chapel Drive. The first of four sessions offered is from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 15. Robin Banks, CYS school liaison officer, reminded parents that their child must be 5 by Dec. 1, 2026, for kindergarten enrollment.
The Fort Drum Directorate of Public Works reported on a brief power outage scheduled from 3 to 5:30 a.m. April 9 and May 3 due to substation upgrades. There will be minimal impact on members of the Fort Drum community, and the outage will not affect heating or air conditioning.
A map of the affected areas is available on the Fort Drum home page, https://home.army.mil/drum. There is also a detailed closure map pertaining to the Po Valley Road closure due to water main repairs.
Billie Elliott, Fort Drum Education Center education specialist, reminded senior leaders to check their email for the policy change regarding tuition assistance and credentialing assistance. Among the changes, both TA and CA require supervisor approval from within the Soldier’s chain of command.
Mountain Wellness Month and ACS Everywhere The Soldier and Family Readiness Center is promoting wellness throughout April during Mountain Wellness Month. Community members are invited to a non-timed 5K at 7 a.m. April 2 outside Magrath Sports Complex.
The Family Advocacy Program will host the 14th annual Baby Palooza from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 22 at The Exchange. Families and expecting parents can explore helpful resources available on post and through local community partners.
The FAP staff is also hosting Game On, an evening of family-friendly sports from 4 to 7 p.m. April 30 at the Youth Sports and Fitness Center on Chapel Drive.
Ashley Edwards, Fort Drum Army Community Service marketing specialist, introduced the “ACS Everywhere” initiative to engage with Soldiers and family members early and often.
“This initiative ensures that they just don’t hear about ACS once, but they encounter it throughout their daily experience here at Fort Drum,” she said. “The goal is simple: to ensure no Soldier or family falls through the gap without knowing where to turn for support.”
Edwards said community members can volunteer as ACS brand ambassadors to help others in the community stay informed, connected, and supported.
“Brand ambassadors help share ACS resources, promote programs, and support outreach efforts to create a more community-driven approach to awareness,” she said.
The volunteer position can be a resume-building opportunity for people who want leadership and community engagement experience while making a positive impact on others. To date, five community members have signed up to become brand ambassadors.