Friday, July 21, 2000
Kids learn safety rules at this camp
By Michael D. Clark
The Cincinnati Enquirer
ST. CLAIR TWP. — Brent Lewis had a busy time at camp this week.
The 12-year-old Hamilton boy had to escape from a trailer filled with blinding smoke.
Later he watched deadly explosives set off and practiced what to do should his clothing catch fire.
Finally he stood close enough to an attacking SWAT team to feel the shock wave as it exploded a stun grenade nearby and rushed in on a gunman holding a woman hostage in a car.
Sure, the smoke was harmless and the gunman was a cardboard cut-out, but the lessons that Brent and dozens of other area children learned were real.
Brent was among this summer's class at Safety Camp, held each year at Camp Campbell Gard in St. Clair Township near Hamilton. For five years Safety Camp's mission has been to help children stay safe in a dangerous world.
The four-day camp, however, isn't all violent simulations. There are bicycle safety drills, burn prevention and water safety sessions, and lessons to help children avoid gangs and drugs.
“I really like it because you get to do hands-on stuff,” Brent said. “They teach you things that help you in everyday situations.”
That was the idea in Hamilton Fire Investigator Cliff MacBurney's head when he began to organize the unusual camp five years ago.
Mr. MacBurney, a 21-year firefighter, founded the camp but insists all the credit since goes to a volunteer staff — many of them also emergency service personnel — who guide the youngsters through dozens of education classes at the YMCA park on the banks of the Great Miami River.
“We are doing it for the kids. That's why we are all in this,” Mr. MacBurney said.
He said the camp is also designed to de-mystify any stereotypical impressions children may have of law enforcement and emergency personnel. Children are allowed to interact with police, firefighters and others in a nonemergency, relaxed environment conducive to learning and building trust.
The camp's instructors are a “who's who” list of Butler County professional emergency service organizations and include: Sheriff's Office; Hamilton and Middletown police; West Chester and St. Clair Township fire departments; American Red Cross and the YMCA, which owns and operates the campground while renting it at a discount price.
At any time during Safety Camp, participating children in grades 4 through 6 will have access to fire trucks, paramedic vehicles, SWAT vehicles, police cruisers, helicopters, police boats, K-9 police dogs, mounted police teams as well as all the recreational facilities at the camp.
Richard Bresch of Hamilton was so impressed by the camp that he sent both his son and daughter.
“I was interested in their learning about gun safety,” Mr. Bresch said. “It's important for them to be educated about that and water safety. I want them to be able to keep themselves safe when I'm not around.”
Dick Swaim
Using his hand to signal a stop, Brent Lewis, 12, practices bike procedures at Safety Camp in Butler County. Other topics: water survival and avoiding drugs.
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