Swinomish Police make local kids happy campers

School’s out, but learning hasn’t stopped.

Local students ages 8-14 spent their first week of summer vacation mastering content shared by the Swinomish Tribal Community Police Department and other area law enforcement agencies, members of the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard, and local firefighters.

Their classroom was the great outdoors.

Swinomish Junior Police Camp youth spent a fast-paced four days scaling an obstacle course at Swinomish Yacht Club, boating to Hope Island and visiting Naval Air Station-Whidbey Island, among other highlights.

Awards ceremonies on Thursday included tours by campers of a fleet of emergency vehicles, among them a massive military-style Skagit County Sheriff’s Office rescue vehicle, plus a King County Sheriff’s Office helicopter that deputies deftly landed in the outfield at John K. Bob Ball Park.

“It was really neat to see that bird come in,” said Swinomish Police Officer DeVan Lord, who coordinated this year’s camp.

Swinomish Police Chief Lou D’Amelio said the annual camp blends lessons related to health and physical fitness, water safety, knowledge of tides and currents, and the roles of first responders and peace officers.

“The Tribe,” he said, “is always interested in exploring career opportunities for young people. The camp is a first-hand opportunity for the kids to see what we do.”

D’Amelio and Lord said campers saw sides of law enforcement rarely portrayed in TV shows and action films.

“A big part of it,” said Lord, “is to let the kids experience what we do, to show them that we really care about them.”

The bonds that developed were obvious.

La Conner seventh grader Edgar Lopez gently teased Swinomish Community Service Officer Brian Geer about the group’s trip to NAS-Whidbey.

“It was funny,” he recalled, “when officer Geer was attacked by a K-9.”

Lopez quickly clarified the story.

“Actually,” said Lopez, “he (Geer) volunteered to do it.”

The K-9 demonstration was just one of many unforgettable moments for campers.

Boarding the King County helicopter was another. As was peering out the top of the large Skagit rescue rig.

Swinomish officer Christopher Kube said the camp is an ideal transition from school to summer for students and their families, with backpacks swapped for life jackets and boat rides taking the place of bus routes.

“It’s something that’s super fun,” said Kube,

The fun wasn’t without challenges, each of which helped students develop a sense of achievement.

“The obstacle course,” Lord noted, “included a tractor-size tire that the kids had to flip over.”

Lord introduced winners of various camp awards, led by C.J. Edwards, who was named Junior Police Officer of the Year.

“He has such a contagious attitude,” Lord said.

The students, in turn, presented poster-sized thank you cards to those who supported the camp.

The awards ceremony brought campers together with representatives of several emergency services departments. Lord gave a shout-out to each, including neighboring Fire District 13.

“It’s nice,” he said to the firefighters, “to see how you guys protect our community. We can’t do this alone, so we appreciate our first responders giving their time here today. We couldn’t do this without them.”

The stars of the day, of course, were the campers themselves.

“This,” D’Amelio said, “allows us to recognize these kids for all their hard work this week.”