Local youth experience law enforcement training at Camp Cadet
Alyssa Choiniere | 缅北禁地
Cadet Trenton Harding makes his way across the second obstacle of the high ropes at State Police Troop B鈥檚 Camp Cadet Thursday at Heritage Reservation in Wharton Township. Local youth ages 12 to 14 got hands-on experiences with law enforcement training at the week-long camp.
Alyssa Choiniere | 缅北禁地
A squad of campers at State Police Troop B鈥檚 Camp Cadet Tuesday at Heritage Reservation in Wharton Township practice water rescue with the Fayette County Emergency Management Agency water rescue team, while other squads await their turn, swimming in the lake and playing on the beach.
Alyssa Choiniere | 缅北禁地
Cadet Mallory Valentine, 14, of Donora makes her way across the first obstacle of the high ropes at State Police Troop B鈥檚 Camp Cadet Thursday at Heritage Reservation in Wharton Township. Local youth ages 12 to 14 got hands-on experiences with law enforcement training at the week-long camp.
Alyssa Choiniere | 缅北禁地
Cadets practice swift water rescue training at State Police Troop B鈥檚 Camp Cadet Tuesday at Heritage Reservation in Wharton Township with the Fayette County Emergency Management Agency water rescue team. Local youth ages 12 to 14 got hands-on experiences with law enforcement training at the week-long camp.
Alyssa Choiniere | 缅北禁地
Cadets take a ride on a water rescue boat during State Police Troop B鈥檚 Camp Cadet Tuesday at Heritage Reservation in Wharton Township with the Fayette County Emergency Management Agency water rescue team. Local youth ages 12 to 14 got hands-on experiences with law enforcement training at the week-long camp.
Alyssa Choiniere | 缅北禁地
Cadets learn about rescue boats at State Police Troop B鈥檚 Camp Cadet Tuesday at Heritage Reservation in Wharton Township with the Fayette County Emergency Management Agency water rescue team. Local youth ages 12 to 14 got hands-on experiences with law enforcement training at the week-long camp.
Alyssa Choiniere | 缅北禁地
Cadets practice swift water rescue training at State Police Troop B鈥檚 Camp Cadet Tuesday at Heritage Reservation in Wharton Township with the Fayette County Emergency Management Agency water rescue team. Local youth ages 12 to 14 got hands-on experiences with law enforcement training at the week-long camp.
Cadet Trenton Harding hesitated to take his first step out onto the high ropes.
鈥淵ou鈥檝e got this. I believe in you,鈥� said a cadet behind him.
The 13-year-old of Eighty Four took his first step and found himself standing high above the ground. Secured with a harness, he tentatively made his way across the line. At times he appeared mentally frozen, but pressed on.
鈥淵ou鈥檝e got this, Harding! You鈥檙e crushing it!鈥� a trooper shouted from the ground.
He made it across the first line as troopers and cadets cheered him on. But there was another line to cross, this one much more challenging. A sudden change came over him, and he knew he could do it. He moved easily along the line, comfortably leaning back against the harness to traverse the obstacle.
鈥淚 could do this all day!鈥� he shouted back, a smile breaking across his face.
He crossed a log and sailed down a zip line, then bounced over to Camp Cadet director Trooper Robert Broadwater.
鈥淭his is where they build their self-esteem,鈥� Broadwater said.
鈥淚 want to do that again,鈥� Harding told him.
State police from Troop B served as camp counselors and trainers last week at Heritage Reservation in Farmington. Kids ages 12 to 14 were invited to the camp from Troop B鈥檚 coverage area, which includes Fayette, Greene, Washington, Allegheny and parts of Westmoreland County. This was the second year for Camp Cadet to be held in Fayette County, and their applicants multiplied to 71. Fourty-two cadets graduated from the camp Saturday.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been really good, really solid this year. This wouldn鈥檛 have gone so smoothly if not for these people in the blue shirts,鈥� Broadwater said, motioning to the group of troopers who dedicate time throughout the year for fundraisers and promoting the free camp.
鈥淲hen I go to these schools to promote this, I offer them an opportunity of a lifetime to better themselves,鈥� he said.
The cadets participate in both law enforcement activities and standard camp activities. They wake up for early morning runs, and participate in hands-on demonstrations with law enforcement. Campers learn to investigate a crime scene, participate in a mock trial and learn swift water rescue skills. They see demonstrations from state police motorcycle, K-9 and aviation units, getting a close up look at the equipment.
The campers learn respect, walking to activities in straight lines, saying thank you for meals and addressing adults as sir or ma鈥檃m. But the structure only seems to strengthen the bond among campers and between the cadets and troopers.
鈥淢alik, did you get a nickname this week?鈥� Cpl. John Weaver shouted at a squad.
鈥淵es, sir!鈥� Isabella Malik shouted back.
鈥淪tand up and tell me what your nickname is.鈥�
鈥淪pidermonkey, sir!鈥� she answered between giggles.
Malik, 13, of Washington said she earned her nickname when she crossed the ropes course in the time it took Weaver to cross the street. She said it was her favorite part of camp.
鈥淚鈥檝e always wanted to be a police officer, and I wanted to see what this would be like for me,鈥� she said.
She has wanted to be a K-9 officer since a demonstration in her 3rd grade class in the McGuffey School District. The week鈥檚 activities taught her she has the skills and perseverance to succeed. During the morning runs, she said she was concerned asthma would hold her back.
鈥淚 know I can push myself. I know I鈥檓 going to complete this, and I鈥檓 going to stay strong,鈥� she said.
Logan Koon, 13, of Bentleyville said his favorite part of camp was 鈥済etting yelled at.鈥�
鈥淣ot usually ma鈥檃m,鈥� he said when asked if he likes being yelled at. 鈥淏ut this is different. I enjoy it.鈥�
鈥淚t really makes you think about what you say and do,鈥� he said.
He thanked the troopers because 鈥渢hey take time out of their lives to do this with us,鈥� he said.
He plans to become a game warden in Montana.
Bowen Sauer, 15, of Greene County returned to camp for the second year to be a senior cadet.
鈥淎t first, it鈥檚 very surreal. It brings back a lot of good memories,鈥� he said.
He said he enjoys watching the cadets 鈥済row up鈥� over the week and learn how to work with a team.
鈥淭hey respect themselves more. They鈥檙e learning not to quit. They鈥檙e learning to respect people and respect property and team work,鈥� he said.
It鈥檚 a challenge when he sees cadets struggling, he said.
鈥淪ometimes it鈥檚 hard whenever they are down or can鈥檛 push themselves. You really want to see them push themselves,鈥� he said.
He said he loves to see 鈥渢he smiles on their faces, watching them grow and the unforgettable bond鈥� between campers.
Broadwater said Heritage Reservation is a perfect location for camp, and thanked the Boy Scouts of America for their support during the week.
鈥淭he support we get from Boy Scouts of America is second to none. They don鈥檛 have to be here, but they stay here to help us,鈥� he said.
He said the goal of the camp is for the cadets鈥� lives to be changed.
鈥淲e鈥檙e hoping by the end of the week to give them the opportunity of a lifetime, and I believe we鈥檝e succeeded,鈥� he said. 鈥淭his is something they can remember years down the road 鈥� that feeling that they haven鈥檛 been given something. They鈥檝e earned it.鈥�