Coral Springs Police-operated Summer Youth Program. {David Volz}
Elijah Clervil enjoys drawing and producing artwork.
“One of my favorite things to do is draw pictures, and today I had the chance to do artwork,” he said.
Clervil is part of the Coral Springs Police-operated Summer Youth Program, where children take part in sports, art, and educational activities at Coral Springs Middle School.
“I enjoy the gym activities, and my favorite game is dodgeball,” said Alyna Castro.
Police Chief Brad Mock visited the camp and spent time with the children. “I want the children here to see the police in a positive light. We are mentors, coaches, and counselors,” adding that he wants the children to develop interpersonal skills and to be kind to others.
The camp is in its tenth year and is offered free of charge to serve underprivileged young people and build positive relationships between them and law enforcement. It is led by police officers as counselors and runs on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Each day includes breakfast, lunch, and a snack.
At the end of the camp, the children will receive free backpacks, school supplies, and shoes. According to Mock, members of the Miami Dolphins visited the camp, and the children were taken to movies.
Even though the children may be facing difficulties, they appeared to be having fun. In the gym, the campers played soccer with enthusiasm. One girl spoke to an officer and said, “I can play soccer better than you can.” The officer responded with, “Let’s see if you can.”
For Hannah Rincon, Community Involvement Officer, the camp is an opportunity to build trust between members of law enforcement and children who will soon become teenagers and adults. “We are here to mentor the children and develop relationships with them,” she said.
Sergeant Bill Capplis, who has been with the camp for ten years and now leads it, said he wants the children to become successful teenagers and young adults.
“We have campers who came back and volunteered. It feels good when a former camper sees me in a store and says the camp was a positive experience,” said Capplis.
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