Page A-8 - Mason County Journal - Thursday, July 31
,2014
Cadets in the Kiwanis Youth Law Enforcement Career Camp, which took place at Shelton's Washington State Patrol Academy,
Thursday with instructor Brent Dell, a corporal with the Washington State Patrol.
Journal photos by Natalie Johnson
participate in an exercise
Kiwanis law enforcement camp lps
teeth teens discipline, teomwork
By NATALIE JOHNSON camp.
natalie@masoncounty.com "Children are the emphasis of Ki-
wanis," Camp Administrator Jan
Some kids go to summer camp to Britt said. "If you don't get them while
play capture the flag, make friend- they're young, you lose them. Mostly
ship bracelets or go camping, it's just another way to strengthen
Others investigate mock crime our community."
scenes, participate in water rescues The camp's graduation was Saturday.
or learn about SWAT teams. During the week, students took
A number of Mason County teens classes and received practical in-
participated in the latter last week at struction in crime scene investiga-
the annual Kiwanis Law Enforcementtion, evidence collection, water res-
Youth Camp, founded in 1977, at Shel- cue, firearms instruction with the
ton's Washington State Patrol Academy. Mason County SWAT team, driving
"It gives them an opportunity to see instruction and other lessons.
different aspects of law enforcement," "Almost everybody in law enforce-
said camp counselor George Oplinger, ment is represented in the week,"
a detective with the Thurston Coun- said Mason County Sheriff Casey
ty Sheriffs Office. "The teamwork is Salisbury, a camp counselor.
amazing ... and their discipline too. Students live in the state patrol
In one week, it's incredible the chang- academy's dorms and are expected to
es you see." maintain the cleanliness standards of
This year, 25 students between a cadet at the academy.
ages 16 and 18, including 21 boys Their beds must be made to state
and four girls, attended the weeklong patrol standards, and in one drawer,
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Logan Macomber, left,
of Tumwater, Andrew
Bender of Monroe,
and Shawn Callaham
of Bainbridge Island
participate in a lab
activity with the
Washington State
Patrol Crimelab.
their toothbrush, toothpaste, soap they're just trying to make you better,"
and other items in order and facing he said. "I want to do it even more."
the same direction. Salisbury said many of the students
"It's an example of how little de- at the camp will go on to be involved in
tails when you're on the road working law enforcement in some capacity.
can make a big difference," trooper Students at the camp are judged,
Travis Joyce said. not necessarily on their ability to per-
Joyce said he participated in theform tasks and physical challenges,
camp in 2005. but on their attitude, integrity and
"I wanted to be a trooper since I was honesty, Oplinger said.
4 years old," he said. "It was the great- "There are kids that come through
est thing that ever happened to me." here who can't necessarily do all the
Four of the students go to high physical things we ask them to do ...
school in Mason County. There's all kinds of different abilities
Matthew Boka, a North Mason and skill levels," he said. "The public
High School student, said he was in- needs to be able to trust the people
spired by a family friend to get into who enforce the laws."
law enforcement. Oplinger, a counselor for his third
He said the camp was difficult but it year, said he sees a positive change in
reinforced his interest in the profession, the students through the week.
The other three Mason County teens "I can really see a change in the
are Adam Pais ofElma, Colton Schmidt, teamwork," he said. "It's just like a
of Shelton and Emily Frost, of Shelton. basketball game, you can't win it by
"They're pushing you for a reason -- yourself."
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