Camp H.E.R.O back in Kosciusko County for eighth year, teaching kids about crucial life skills

KOSCIUSKO COUNTY, Ind. -- Camp H.E.R.O is back in Kosciusko County for its eighth year. The camp teaches kids 8 to 13 about honor, excellence, respect, and opportunity through workshops in self-defense, anti-bullying, and more.

Camp H.E.R.O has blossomed over 300 campers taking part in the free three-day camp. Nearly 80 volunteers help guide the color coordinated teams, through a phoneless day of outdoor activities. The campers respond with yes ma’am or no sir, which Sgt. Doug Light says is a welcome return to tradition, especially ahead of the school year.

“We need to get back to some of those basic responsibilities,” Sgt. Light said. “Basic respect, and just doing those little things over these three days we hope the kids will take to some of that.”

Having spent 31 years as a first responder, Sgt Light enjoys what he does, but kids are fascinated by it and the exposure goes far.

“Giving them a close-up personal look at some of the things we do, that's kinda why we do the camp,” Sgt. Light said, “We use it as a recruiting tool, it helps our next generation of first responders.”

Many kids have been to camp for multiple years, like Isabella, who is 12 and in her fourth year of camp. She came all the way from New York to participate in the camp with her cousins. Although she is sad that next year is her last year, she plans to come back as a volunteer.

“It helps me with getting comfortable with meeting new kids more often,” Isabella said, “and it also helps me to know what I want to be when I grow up.”

Isabella wants to be a detective when she grows up. And according to EMT Terry Brown, former and current campers of all ages learn lifesaving skills. Such as a camper who was a few weeks out from camp when a child around him started drowning.

“He was telling his dad how to do CPR to another kid.” Brown said. “He learned that here at Camp H.E.R.O, so for us as EMS to know were affecting the community like that is very powerful.”

Brown administers first aid and teaches CPR to the kids. He’s participated in the program for the last seven years, and his son has for the last two. Brown’s son hopes to be an EMT. Brown received his EMS license in high school, so he knows how important early career exposure is for kids, but that isn’t the most important thing to him.

“The biggest reward," Brown said, "is watching kids grow up and make new friendships out here.”