GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (KSNB) – Middle School can be a scary change for kids and the Grand Island Police Department is hosting a series of Summer Youth Camps to help smooth that transition.
The camps are designed specifically for students entering 6th grade, the program offers a free, weeklong experience that blends fun activities with lessons in leadership, positive decision-making and community involvement.
School Resource Officer Ben Arrants said teaching kids team-building skills is very important when meeting new people.
”They’re going from small class sizes into a lot bigger class sizes and they’re going to meet new kids and so this helps with the social aspect of meeting new people and basically how to communicate and work with others,” Arrants said. “Sometimes, if they do not get along with them, they still have to find ways to work beside them and work with them.”
Arrants also said he’s enjoyed watching the transformation in kids from day one in the camps, to their last day.
”We’ve seen some really positive things. They really communicate better while we’re doing some of these activities,” Arrants said. “Some don’t feel as comfortable breaking out, but they find ways to help others, like if they recognize that someone needs a little coaching or influencing themselves, they do it in a positive way.”
Volunteer for the program Miranda Obermiller said along with teaching kids life skills, it also makes them feel more comfortable to approach the officers if there’s a problem or they need someone to talk to.
”It shows a different side to the officers that they may not see,” Obermiller said. “It shows that they are a friendly face and that they are a trusted adult that these kids can turn to in need of help or in need of anything, that they really are there to help them and guide them through middle school and to help build their character.”
The first Summer Youth Camp started at Barr Middle School on Monday and will last until Wednesday. The other three camps will go from June 16–20, July 7–11, and July 14–18.
All camps run Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. (ending at 1 p.m. on Fridays) and are held on the east side of Barr Middle School. A free lunch will be provided.
The camp is free to attend, but space is limited to 40 students per session. Interested families are encouraged to submit applications as soon as possible, with selections made on a first-come, first-served basis.
For more information on the program, you can go to the City of Grand Island website.
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