Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
This year, Camp HERO (Honor, Excellence, Respect, Opportunity) has grown to about 320 kids registered for the camp.
Last year, about 240 kids were registered.
Sgt. Doug Light, public information officer for the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office, said this is the eighth year for Camp HERO. It was an idea for the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office to do a camp of their own after seeing other camps like ones put on by the Indiana Sheriffs’ Association.
“It gives them a glimpse of what it’s like to be a first responder,” he said. Being a first responder is still great profession and gives kids an up-close look at what police, fire and EMS do on a daily basis, Light stated.
During the three-day camp, kids will go through rotations of different stations.
Every day has a physical challenge. Tuesday’s was an Ironman/woman course. Kids also learned about corrections, 911 dispatch, DUI impairment and self-defense. Live Well Kosciusko did an educational piece on vaping. There was a food relay.
Tuesday ended with a tug-of-war.
Light said about 90% kids at Camp HERO are from Kosciusko County, with kids ranging in age from 8 to 13. He said they feel that age range is good to handle what the camp is having them do physically and mentally. There were several kids that aged out of the camp that came back as junior counselors.
Light said some of the physical activities kids do at Camp HERO challenge them.
“This is challenging what they’re doing right now,” he said, talking about the Ironman/woman course. He added counselors see kids question whether they can do certain things. When they do it, they get excited about what they did and “it’s just neat.”
Light said they just want to learn, grow and have fun, “that’s the main thing.”
