In its fifth year, Camp HERO (Honor, Excellence, Respect, Opportunity) has grown to just shy of 200 kids.
In 2023, the camp had about 138 registered.

    Firearm safety was taught to Camp HERO participants by (L to R) Lyndsay Adams, Isaac Adams and Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office Det. Sgt. James Marshall. Photo by David Slone, Times-Union
  

“So we’ve added quite a few from last year’s group,” Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Sgt. Doug Light said Tuesday afternoon, the first day of Camp HERO.
He said they took more in this year than planned due to a glitch, but “it’s been great. We’ve had enough help, which is huge, to allow for all those extra campers.”
Some of the campers are the children of police officers, EMTs and firefighters.
“It’s pretty exciting. We’ll evaluate it again like we do every year. A lot of us will sit down and we’ll look at, ‘hey, we had this many, can we bump it up another 25 or 30 for next year or even more?’ It’s always the goal. It really comes down to - we definitely have the facility - it just comes down to do we have enough adult help to supervise everybody?” Light said. “So far, so good. We’re off to a great start.”
Light said they have over 80 volunteers for Camp HERO’s three days of activities. Many of those volunteers are first responders, but also come from the private sector.

    Lutheran Air takes off from the county fairgrounds during Camp HERO Tuesday. Photo by David Slone, Times-Union
  

First responders are from several police agencies, multiple fire departments, Lutheran EMS and “a lot of agencies represented,” he said.
This is the second year Camp HERO has been held at the fairgrounds.
“This has been a great venue for us. So much space, and the different buildings that we can utilize and really just the green space,” Light said.
Tuesday was EMS Day at Camp HERO, featuring activities where campers could create their own first aid kids, learn about CPR and stopping bleeding and Lutheran Air helicopter landed. Kosciusko REMC gave a live wire demonstration, while various breeds of K9s were introduced.
There was a section on the county’s correction department, and another on dispatch. In one building, campers learned about what jail is really like, while in another building they were taught firearms safety.

    Part of Camp HERO is the Ironman and Ironwoman endurance competition. Photo by David Slone, Times-Union
  

Explaining the firearms safety station, James Marshall, KCSO detective sergeant, said, “We have them for about 45 minutes, so I’ll spend about the first 15 minutes talking about gun safety, firearm safety, what to do - we have, obviously, kids that range from age 8 to 13 - if you come across a gun out in the public somewhere. ... What to do, what not to do. Or, if you find your parents’ gun at home, or at a friend’s house. So, basically, what to do if you come across a gun - not touching it.”
The campers also are taught about firearm safety if their intent is to go out and shoot.
“So, basically, just an overall firearm class, if you will,” Marshall said. “And then when they’re done with that, then we’re going to break them off into groups and we’re going to go up and shoot at the targets. We’re going to attempt to come up with a Top Shot for the camp for the week in two age groups - seniors and juniors. So, the 8-, 9- and 10-year-olds will be in a group, and then the 11- through 13-year-olds.”

    A camper wears intoxication glasses while trying to walk around traffic cones Tuesday at Camp HERO. Photo by David Slone, Times-Union
  

For the Top Shot competition, each kid will get about 10 shots.
As the campers are shooting, they will be told individually about shooting, proper grip, aiming and safely holding a gun.
The firearms the kids will be using are airsoft guns. They’re gas-powered that are relatively harmless, though everyone wears eye protection.
Campers - divided into eight squads, up from four in 2023 - rotated Tuesday through the eight different stations that touch on a little bit of everything, Light said. Each squad has its own color of shirt.
Wednesday is Firefighters Day. Activities will range from a scuba diving demonstration to extrication and a ladder demonstration and much more.

    A camper learns EVO (emergency vehicle operations) at Camp HERO Tuesday. Photo by David Slone, Times-Union
  

The third and final day, Thursday, is law enforcement day. The fun will start with members of the SWAT and bomb squads, and end with graduation and dinner, according to a provided schedule.
The camp also features an Ironman and Ironwoman competition.
“We just set some physical challenges. It’s broken down into a junior and senior (divisions), and it’s just kind of an endurance skill competition,” Light said.
There are awards at the end of the camp for the Ironman and Ironwoman contests.
By the end of the three days, Light said it’s all about the campers learning about and understanding what it’s really like to be a first responder.

    Camp HERO kids learn to pack their own first aid kit with the help of Lutheran EMS. Photo by David Slone, Times-Union
  

“So, it’s kind of how we break it down into three days. We may do a little recruiting as well, look toward the future, but (I’m) super excited. It’s going to be - weatherwise - it’s going to be a great three days. We’re off to a great start,” Light said.
On sponsorship for Camp HERO, he said, “What a great community it is. We’ll start with the Kosciusko County Fairgrounds, number one, and then so many sponsors, whether they gave a monetary donation or some types of goods or services, we are so blessed. Thankful. We can’t thank them enough. I know that some of those that donate are going to pop in and out this week and take a look. We invited them out to come out and take a look and see what the kids are doing.”
Light gave a shoutout to Kosciusko County Sheriff Jim Smith for supporting Camp HERO, as well as all the other police and fire chiefs for allowing their men and women to take part in Camp HERO.