ROBERTSDALE, Ala. — “Positive Changes, for Positive Results”…

This is the message the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Department wants to convey to kids through their “Shining Star Camps” held in three different locations this summer.

At Central Baldwin Middle School in Robertsdale this week, 102 8-13 year olds got to experience several different fun interactive activities designed to promote a positive connection between the BCSO and the schools and build life skills, instill confidence and develop self-esteem.

BCSO deputy Jeff Spaller said this is the third year for the camps and has grown from one location in Bay Minette to three locations this year (Bay Minette, Robertsdale and Fairhope) and is very pleased with the response they have gotten from them.

“The kids really love all the activities they get to do and we are trying to teach them some important life lessons. This idea grew of out our school resource officer program started in 2007 and we wanted to foster a positive interaction between us and the schools. This is a good way to do that,” Spaller said, who is in charge of coordinating the camps and school resource and community outreach programs.

Costing $30, each child attending receives three camp t-shirts and four days of fun mixed with breakout sessions geared to inform and teach about important topics kids are faced with today.

Beginning at 8 a m. and going until 4 p.m., students on Wednesday got to see demonstrations from the BCSO K-9 unit and the Alabama Bureau of Investigations Bomb squad plus a look at the Alabama State Troopers Air Unit helicopter. And that was just in the morning session.

After a lunch break (kids bring their own lunch), the afternoon session allowed the students some fun games in the gym (basketball and bowling) and sessions on tobacco and alcohol awareness by the Baldwin Mental Health and Daphne Police Department School Resource Unit .

Students also got to see the inside of a $500,000 Debakey Drug Bus and see and hear a presentation on what drugs can do to your body. Complete with wall-to wall flat screen televisions and benches to sit on, students are told of the dangers of common drugs like marijuana, cocaine, heroin and alcohol and cigarettes and get to see what the effects of these drugs are on real organs displayed in glass cases (lungs, liver, brain and heart and pancreas).

Mobile Infirmary and the Debakey Foundation funded the bus and it goes to schools all over Mobile and Baldwin County during the year.

State Trooper Darren Davis also put on a bomb squad demonstration with a robot that can detect and retrieve bombs from various locations bomb squad members couldn’t get to easily. The $136,000 robot is controlled by Davis and has a robotic arm that can go up and down and travel at a speed of six miles per hour. The students had a good time taking turns moving the robot around the room.

With 18 volunteers helping out (BCSO employees, Explorers, community and business leaders), Lynne Tedder, BCSO Human Resources Director and volunteer, said everything has gone smoothly and they are so thankful for everyone who come out to help with the camp.

“This is a great experience for the kids and we enjoy it too. It’s really neat all the things all the kids get to do everyday,” Tedder said.

Some of the other activities students got to participate in this week were:

-Thursday: Electricity safety demo (Baldwin EMC), Taser demo (BCSO), E911 calls (BCSO, Animal awareness (Alligator Alley), Baldwin County lockup (BCSO), Hot Wheels Skating Center, Daphne

-Friday: Internet and cell phone safety (U.S. Attorney General’s office), Alcohol awareness golf cart course (Foley Police Department), Boating awareness (Marine Police), Project REBOUND, Drug awareness (BCSO), Crime Scene Investigations (BCSO), Physical fitness/field events

-Saturday: Camp graduation/awards (BCSO Sheriff Huey “Hoss” Mack), FREE Family Fun Day (hamburgers, hot dogs, drinks, fun demonstrations)

“These activities incorporate teamwork, physical fitness, and general information and includes a collaborative effort with several Baldwin County agencies to help our youth in a fun and safe environment to make them more productive young men and women and teach good citizenship,” according to the camp brochure.

Along with BCSO volunteers, many community businesses and organizations have donated resources for the camp and Spaller said they are very grateful for their support of the BCSO.

The last camp dates and location are: August 3-6 at Fairhope Intermediate School and the deadline for registration is Friday, July 22 at Fairhope Satellite Courthouse.

For more information, contact Spaller at 251-802-1115 or Tammy Rider at 251-580-1677. Applications may be picked up at FIS or downloaded online at www.sheriffofbaldwin.com