Owensboro Police Department is holding its 13th annual Camp KOPS event this week at Camp Schafer in Pellville, Ky. The four-day overnight camp is designed to provide a fun and educational experience for elementary school children from Owensboro Public Schools. Many of these children may not have had the opportunity to experience overnight camp or to spend time with police officers out of their uniforms.
OPD Public Information Officer Andrew Boggess said Camp KOPS is a collaboration between OPS and OPD as teachers from five different OPS elementary schools select soon-to-be fifth graders to participate in the overnight camp experience.
“The whole point of the camp is to try and make some positive connections with kids,” Boggess said. “We work closely with the school system throughout the year, and they pick the kids they believe would be good candidates.”
Boggess said OPS teachers select the students for Camp KOPS for a variety of reasons.
“It gives them an opportunity to experience things they might not get to do, otherwise,” Boggess said. “They get to interact with officers outside of the uniform.”
This year, around 20 different children will participate in Camp KOPS with at least eight different OPD officers, who take four days off the streets to provide these children with a positive experience. Both the officers and children stay in bunkhouses provided at Camp Schafer.
At this year’s camp, children will get to participate in activities including archery, arts and crafts, relay races, swimming, fishing, canoeing and, for the first time, laser tag will be included.
Camp KOPS originated in 2006 as a day camp, but, over the years, has evolved into a four-day overnight camp to offer the attendees a true camping experience.
Boggess said feedback from parents and children has been great over the years, and that OPD hopes to keep the Camp KOPS experience going for a long time to come.
“The kids who participate always seem to really enjoy it,” Boggess said.
