Chenango youth enjoy 25th year of Sheriff's Camp
(Zachary Meseck Photo)
SMYRNA – The Chenango County Sheriff's Office celebrated its 25th year of holding Sheriff's Camp, with approximately 350 children attending this year's events.
The Chenango County Sheriff’s Camp is a free summer program focused on giving children four days of fun away from home, teaching children life lessons, and encouraging positive character traits while providing campers with positive interactions with law enforcement.
The children stay at Camp Thompson in Smyrna, Monday mornings though Thursday afternoons and is for youths nine to 12 years old. This year's camp is open between July 8 and August 1.
According to Chenango County Sheriff Ernest Cutting, during their stay, campers will have the opportunity to take part in numerous activities including, swimming, dancing, extinguishing a fire in a controlled environment, receiving safe child identification cards, viewing a helicopter landing, and learning about the corrections process.
"We're always looking for ways to improve and give back to our community, and providing a free camp for kids to enjoy is one way we do that," said Cutting. "It's an event that takes a lot of work each year, but is made possible by an entire team of people looking to make a difference."
Cutting said to help run the camp, the county has hired more than 12 counselors, several of them trained as life-guards, and all of them are certified in first aid, CPR, and AED deployment. He said many members of law enforcement and their families volunteer at the event as well.
"We want to ensure the counselors are prepared and trained to act if necessary, especially with kids spending time in the water," said Cutting.
He said the Sheriff's Summer Camp is operated with funds raised by private contributions and by bottles & cans collected at several drop-off bins located at County Recycling Centers, and no tax money is used for camp operations. He added that none of this would be possible without the efforts and funding of former Chenango County Sheriff Joseph J. Benenati Jr.
The Chenango County Sheriff’s Camp is a free summer program focused on giving children four days of fun away from home, teaching children life lessons, and encouraging positive character traits while providing campers with positive interactions with law enforcement.
The children stay at Camp Thompson in Smyrna, Monday mornings though Thursday afternoons and is for youths nine to 12 years old. This year's camp is open between July 8 and August 1.
According to Chenango County Sheriff Ernest Cutting, during their stay, campers will have the opportunity to take part in numerous activities including, swimming, dancing, extinguishing a fire in a controlled environment, receiving safe child identification cards, viewing a helicopter landing, and learning about the corrections process.
"We're always looking for ways to improve and give back to our community, and providing a free camp for kids to enjoy is one way we do that," said Cutting. "It's an event that takes a lot of work each year, but is made possible by an entire team of people looking to make a difference."
Cutting said to help run the camp, the county has hired more than 12 counselors, several of them trained as life-guards, and all of them are certified in first aid, CPR, and AED deployment. He said many members of law enforcement and their families volunteer at the event as well.
"We want to ensure the counselors are prepared and trained to act if necessary, especially with kids spending time in the water," said Cutting.
He said the Sheriff's Summer Camp is operated with funds raised by private contributions and by bottles & cans collected at several drop-off bins located at County Recycling Centers, and no tax money is used for camp operations. He added that none of this would be possible without the efforts and funding of former Chenango County Sheriff Joseph J. Benenati Jr.
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