SLO County Sheriff’s Youth Summer Camp providing fun and games, plus valuable life lessons to kids
ARROYO GRANDE, Calif. -- Dozens of kids are taking part this week in the annual San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Youth Summer Camp.
The five-day long camp is taking at Mesa Middle School in rural Arroyo Grande and is being held for children that are incoming into grades 6th through 8th.
Over the course of the week, kids will not only take part in a variety of fun and games, but also learn valuable life lessons as well.
"They're learning how to make positive choices, working together," said San Luis Obispo Sheriff's deputy Maria Lomeli. "We have several lessons that follow our curriculum that we teach during the school year at some of our schools. We mostly focus on responsibility, trust and anti-bullying. Our main focus is making choices so that the kids have skills and tools to apply to their daily lives."
On Tuesday, children were given important information on internet safety and drug awareness.
"Just giving the kids some tools so they can react when they're put into a situation and hoping they have the information that we provide them teaches them how to make a positive choice and what's going to keep them out of trouble," said Lomeli.
The free camp is an outreach program that is celebrating its 10th year and is intended for kids that live within the Sheriff's Office jurisdiction in the South County.
"We're grateful that we have this camp," said San Luis Obispo Sheriff's Office Crime Prevention Specialist Grace Norris. "It's a great way that we can build strong relationships with our community and with our youth, and so we're happy to be out here this week and getting to have a lot of fun with the kids."
Campers at Mesa Middle School live in rural Arroyo Grande, Nipomo and Oceano.
Other activities over the course of the week includes motivational speakers, assemblies, K9 demonstrations, mental health guidance and team building lessons.
The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office will hold two additional Youth Summer Camps this month at Lillian Larsen Elementary Schooll in San Miguel and Cayucos Elementary School.
"We still have openings for the other two camps, but if their are any kids our schools, they are more than welcome to sign up," said Lomeli. "We hope to see you there. We're having a good time."
Each camp is limited to 120 participants.
For more information contact Deputy Maria Lomeli at mlomeli@co.slo.ca.us
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