Sunny Day Camp makes Greene debut
Special needs children and adults got a day-long look at the experiences of law enforcement and other first responders at the first Sunny Day Camp in Greene County Thursday.
About 30 people attended the day-long camp, put on by the Pennsylvania State Police.
The program is celebrating its 10th anniversary statewide. It鈥檚 based on Camp Cadet, a week-long summer youth program that gives children a look inside law enforcement and the criminal justice system.
鈥淪pecial needs is usually kind of a forgotten community, so we want to make sure they get the experience of Camp Cadet, what we do,鈥� said Trooper Melinda Bondarenka of Troop B鈥檚 Office of Community Engagement.
Officers and other first responders gave interactive presentations throughout the day and presented displays to give people a personal experience.
With canine and mounted units, the group got to see the animals and hear a presentation about what the animals do while they鈥檙e working. At the Game Commission鈥檚 booth, they also got to feel the pelts of different animals the organization encounters throughout their day. Outside, there were also large yard games like skee-ball and Connect Four.
Rachel Williamson of Waynesburg came as part of the day program through 2nd Sam 9, a Waynesburg non-profit that aids people with developmental disabilities.
鈥淚鈥檝e always wanted to go to camp, but when I was little, I was other places, and this is my first one I ever went to,鈥� she said.
She liked the particular noise of the helicopters as they flew and landed, and the blinking lights of the sirens on a police car, She also enjoyed getting to meet the police horses, which reminded her of her days taking riding lessons.
When Bondarenka floated the idea of the program to Greene County Emergency Management Agency Director Rich Policz, he had already been thinking about ways to serve the county鈥檚 special needs community, who are too often left out, he said. It鈥檚 an issue he feels connected to, as many of his friends have children with autism or Down syndrome.
鈥淭hese special needs kids and adults had a blast,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he law enforcement, the first responders in here had a good day that was relaxing, away from their normal jobs. I think it was just a good time for everybody.鈥�
Policz is looking to make it an annual event. While the quick turnaround necessitated placing this year鈥檚 in July, he鈥檚 hoping next year鈥檚 can be scheduled for sometime in September after school starts.
鈥淚t was a little bit smaller this year, but we figure it鈥檒l grow,鈥� he said.