PICKENS LAW OFFICERS WRAPPING UP SUMMER YOUTH CAMPS

With the opening of school less than one week away, a group of local police
officers are helping students end the summer on a high note.

The Liberty Police Department and the Pickens County Sheriff's Office have
both hosted summer camps, with the aim of having fun and teaching kids to
say no to drugs.

However, the two agencies have taken two different approaches to reach
young people.

While the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program has been discontinued by
the Sheriff's Office, the annual camp continues to offer summer fun, sports
and adventure without the DARE element.

The Sheriff's Office camp, which will continue through today for nine- to
13-year-olds at Camp Thornwell, has been packed full of activities,
including archery, swimming, volleyball and educational presentations from
a variety of groups.

"It lets them see law enforcement in a different light," said Marvin Nix, a
school resource officer at Daniel High School who attended both summer
camps. "I really enjoy getting to know the kids."

Nix said the Sheriff's Office hopes to offer the camp again next year.

The Liberty Police Department's camp remains centered around DARE, with
plans to expand its program in the near future.

The program has mainly targeted fifth-graders. But Liberty Police Chief
Jody Bergholm said the department soon hopes to include other elementary
students and those at middle and high school levels.

School Resource Officer Greg Newton has been in training to teach on high
school level so that the program can be offered to ninth-graders at Liberty
High this year. Next year, the program could expand again to
seventh-graders, Bergholm said.

Part of Liberty's DARE program includes a week-long summer camp for
approximately 65 youths.

During the camp, students heard from guest speakers and took field trips to
the Pickens County Airport, Stumphouse Mountain Tunnel and Pisgah Forest.

Liberty High School junior Melissa Wilcox was one of 11 teen counselors at
the camp. While it meant giving up two weeks of her summer for training and
activities, she said she'd do it again.

"It really applies to your life," she said. You help others while having a
good time, she said.

"I learned there's more fun things to do than take drugs," said Kirsten
Meece, a sixth-grader at Pickens Middle School.

"It's more than just police in the schools," Newton said. It's also a
partnership with parents, schools and local businesses.

The Central and Clemson police departments also have DARE programs in
place. Clemson Police Chief Johnson Link said Clemson's program for
fifth-graders at Morrison Elementary has been at work for more than 10
years and reaches probably between 80 and 100 students annually.

"It's a valuable resource for kids," he said.

Erikah Haavie writes about Easley and surrounding areas of Pickens County.