Sheriff's Office Youth Camp Continues to Operate After 25 Years | Nvdaily

STRASBOURG — Want to feel old? Consider this: The kids who attended the Frederick County Sheriff's Office's first youth camp are now in their 30s.

The 25th edition of the week-long camp launched in 1999 takes place this week at Cedar Creek Christian Camp near Strasburg, which has hosted the almost annual gathering since 2013. The “almost annual” distinction is due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 19. canceling the 2020 gathering, but it returned in 2021 as a one-day event and returned in full force in 2022.

On Tuesday morning, many of the people responsible for creating the Youth Camp a quarter of a century ago gathered at the campground near Strasbourg for a short ceremony thanking them for establishing such a strong cornerstone for the event annual summer camp that allows sixth, seventh and eighth graders to enjoy a free five-day, four-night camp experience.

Present at the ceremony were corporate sponsors, community supporters and former Frederick County Sheriff's Office deputies who led the first camps. The man who started the camp in 1999, retired Frederick County Sheriff Bob Williamson, and the man who continued the tradition after being elected in 2016, current Frederick County Sheriff Lenny Millholland, were unable to be present.

“God has blessed us with beautiful weather,” Frederick County Sheriff's Office Maj. Steve Hawkins, the current camp director, told attendees Tuesday, as the bright sun was at times dimmed by clouds. “We've been through 95 degree weather, we've been through cold, [we’ve gone through] the storms are coming. »

But bad weather is rarely a problem at youth camp because the kids — there are 71 campers this week — sleep in air-conditioned dorms.

Food and supplies are rarely a problem either, thanks to local donations and funds raised during the Sheriff's Office's annual Valor 5K race held each spring at the Winchester Regional Airport. According to data provided by Hawkins, hosting the camp costs between $13,000 and $15,000 per year, and the entire tab is covered by profits from the Valor 5K and support from community members, businesses and civic organizations.

The camp is primarily staffed by members of the Frederick County Sheriff's Office, who receive help from adult volunteers and former campers who, after entering ninth grade, are invited to return and serve as junior counselors.

“It’s been close to my heart all these years,” said Jarod Nail, camp counselor and investigator with the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office, who has been volunteering since 2009. “It’s a blessing in my life.”

“This camp is working great,” added one of this year’s junior counselors, Khloe Roman, 15. “I really like it here.”

There's certainly a lot to like. Before campers head home Friday, they will be able to fish, archery, woodwork, dye shirts, swim, play on giant inflatables, slide down a giant slide and much more. They will also help the community as one of their projects this week is building seven mobile food pantries that Bright Futures-Frederick/Winchester will install in Frederick County high schools, allowing students in need to get free nutritious foods.

Children at camp cannot use electronic devices. They are not allowed.

“We're proving here, for a week, that their hearts are still beating,” Hawkins said when asked how campers deal with having their cell phones removed. “They don’t need it.”

The Frederick County Sheriff's Office's first youth camp was held in 1999 at Hunting Ridge Retreat. He moved to Camp Rock Enon after two years, then to his current home at Cedar Creek Christian Camp in 2013.

Some of the now-retired Frederick County Sheriff's Office deputies who played integral roles in the camp's founding and early years of operation were among those who attended the 25th anniversary celebration Tuesday: Bill Horn, Robbie Eckman and Tim Sandy.

“The camp jerseys we started with don’t fit anymore for some reason,” joked Horn, who served as camp director for the first five years.

Horn remembers the very first day of the very first camp, when the kids were bused to Hunting Ridge Retreat. As dozens of children exited the bus, he said he looked at another counselor and asked, “What have we gotten ourselves into?”

Sandy said the generosity of the community has been the key to the success of the Frederick County Sheriff's Office youth camp. Even in the early years, the influx of local donations was remarkable.

“We had at least one shirt per child per day,” Sandy said.

Because of the enthusiasm shown by the children, volunteers and donors, Eckman said he never doubted the camp would remain a huge success for 25 years or more.

“I was confident that people would continue Bob Williamson's work … and he has tremendous community support,” Eckman said.

“You all laid the foundation that allowed us to be here 25 years later,” Hawkins told his former colleagues and other guests who were instrumental in starting the camp. “We very much appreciate the work you all have done.”

Nail said he's already looking forward to next year's Frederick County Sheriff's Office youth camp.

“I had to leave here [on the last day of camp] in 2014 because my daughter was born,” he said. “She will be old enough to come here next year.”