"Encouraging youth through positive reinforcement."

Each year the Department, in conjunction with the Ionia Department of Recreation, hosts a “Camp With A Cop” program.  As part of this program, Public Safety Officers  and Firefighters, as well as Recreation Department employee’s actually camp over night at the Ionia Fairgrounds with two different groups of area youths, ages 8-12. 

One group includes area youths that register for the program through the Recreation Department on a first come / first serve basis, and the other group are young individuals that were selected by Ionia County Juvenile Courts Youth Services Bureau.  These particular kids are considered “at risk” and were referred to YSB by either their parents, their teachers or the court system.  The first group attends the Camp from noon until 10:00 a.m. the following day, and then the second group comes in at noon on the second day and stays until 10:00 a.m. the next day.

Activities during both sessions include biking, fishing, riding go-carts, kick ball, games and races, and of course roasting marshmallows over a campfire.  Public Safety Officers also cook breakfast, lunch and dinner, they conduct safety presentations, and there is a demonstration with the Departments 75’ aerial where each participant is allowed to spray water from a charged fire hose.

Our “Camp With a Cop” program not only provides our Officers with a good opportunity to interact with the communities youth and to build a good rapport with them, but it also provides us with the opportunity to educate them further in areas such as bicycle safety, fire safety and personal safety.  We look forward to this event each year.     

 04/10/2006