Sheriff’s camp blends summer fun with leadership skills

Youth campers from ages 8 to 14 from different parts of Essex County are welcomed each week. Campers are divided into junior and senior groups, for activities and discussions that are tailored to different age levels.

This week, the campers are from Lawrence, Methuen, Andover, Haverhill and Danvers.

Preventing problems before they even start is at the heart of the academy.

“The best way to keep young people away from drugs, violence, bullying, and other harmful behaviors is to reach them before they ever face those challenges,” Coppinger explained.

He said the leadership academy “gives kids the confidence to make good decisions, stand up for others, and become positive leaders in their schools and communities.”

“If even one child leaves here more confident, more compassionate, and better prepared to make the right choices, we’ve accomplished something meaningful. When that happens hundreds of times over the course of the summer, it makes a real difference in the future of Essex County,” Coppinger said.

Throughout the week, campers participate in hands-on activities, educational presentations, team-building exercises, and go on field trips that encourage confidence, responsibility, and cooperation. Interactive lessons teach practical life skills, including internet safety, CPR, bullying prevention, substance use awareness, and how making positive choices can positively impact themselves, their families, and their communities.

The academy also gives campers the opportunity to meet correctional officers, law enforcement professionals, first responders, and community partners who introduce them to careers in public safety while reinforcing the importance of teamwork, respect, and service to others.

Methuen police detectives lead an interactive criminal investigations class, while the Middleton Fire Department teaches fire safety. The Middleton Police Department discusses personal safety and the dangers of strangers. Massachusetts State Police also gave a presentation on safety.

Senior campers also tour Middleton Jail, giving them a firsthand look at the consequences of poor decisions while reinforcing the importance of making positive choices.

Campers also enjoy all kinds of activities including bowling, mini golf, a trampoline park, a whale watch excursion, a visit from Curious Creatures and other activities.

These activities foster friendships, build teamwork and create lasting memories, Coppinger said.

Free for kids, the leadership academy is paid for in part with funding from the New England High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, a federal agency based in Methuen.

Essex County Outreach also offsets costs.

Mackenzie O’Rourke, 9, and Rhianna Sood, 9, both of Methuen, were excited to come back after attending last year.

This was the first year attending for Bennett Allison, 8, and Ryan Schwartz, 8, both of Danvers. They have already discovered why so many children return though.

Allison said one of the most valuable lessons he’s learned is CPR.

“That could help someone,” Allison said.

Schwartz agreed.

“Everyone should go to cop camp,” he said.

The academy’s impact extends beyond its campers.

Alexandria Boucher of Salem who attended the program every summer from ages 8 through 14, has returned this year as a counselor while studying criminal justice as a senior at Saint Anselm College.

“I can be the role model like the counselors were to me,” Boucher said. “They are learning a lot while still having fun.”

Interest in the academy continues to grow each year. Registration opens each March at eccf.com and the nearly 600 available spots are typically filled within just a few hours.

Coppinger said he hears from parents every year about the lasting impact the program has on their children.

“We’ve had families tell us their child was able to help someone who was choking because they remembered the CPR training they received at the academy. Others have shared stories about their children recognizing when a classmate was being bullied and having the confidence to step in, speak up, or get an adult involved,” Coppinger said.

“Those are the moments that remind us this program is about much more than a week of summer camp. It’s about giving young people the skills and confidence to make a positive difference wherever they go,” he said.

“As Sheriff, I spend a great deal of time helping adults rebuild their lives after poor decisions. Programs like this allow us to work on the other end of that equation by giving young people the knowledge, confidence, and character to make positive choices from the very beginning. That’s one of the best investments we can make in the future of our communities,” Coppinger said.

Follow staff reporter Jill Harmacinski on Twitter @EagleTribJill and Threads at jillyharma.