Pennsylvania State Police welcome kids for annual Camp Cadet
Camp Cadet, a summer camp hosted by the Pennsylvania State Police, kicked off Sunday afternoon. This camp is an experience that gives kids an opportunity for personal growth.
One organizer told us that throughout the week, the kids will be challenged both physically and mentally.
The Pennsylvania State Police have been hosting Camp Cadet for decades.
Each June, dozens of kids between the ages of 12 and 15 arrive at camp not only to learn about law enforcement but also to learn about themselves.
During the week-long camp, the staff pushes the cadets to be the best version of themselves.
'A lot of them will come in a little bit nervous, and by the end of the week, these kids don't want to go home. So they get the knowledge, the military knowledge, the law enforcement knowledge, but they also get to see what it's like for them to push themselves…to better themselves. It's a leadership camp. It's not a camp for bad kids. It's a camp to make good kids better,' said Trooper Cindy Schick, Troop E community service officer for PSP.
All of the cadets have the same experience at camp, but not all of them are there for the same reason.
'Some of them they volunteer, they want to do it. And some of them are 'voluntold' by their parents. By the end of the week, I believe that every kid is glad that they completed it. They're proud of themselves, and that is our goal,' Trooper Schick said.
To some of these kids, this is not just another summer camp. This is an experience that will prepare them for the future.
'I want to become a state trooper for my real job, so I especially want to come back. I get to meet a bunch of troopers, see how they would act. Especially how the actual academy would be for a real trooper,' said Blaze Gigler, a senior cadet.
'I was either going towards law enforcement or being in the Marines or some branch of the army. It was a wonderful experience for me…everyone else,' Caden Wright, another senior cadet, told us.
And to those on the fence about the camp, the senior cadets said it's worth a shot
'It teaches you a lot about how life will work later in life. They don't really treat you like a kid. They treat you like you're growing up and take more responsibility. It's just a really great experience. It makes you think about how you treat people and how people treat you,' Wright went on to say.
This week, the cadets will get a chance to see state police helicopters, K-9 units and the SWAT team.
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