Grovetown will have free summer camp for children

Grovetown police plan to offer children in the city something fun and educational to do with their summer vacation with the 12th annual Grovetown Against Drugs Free Summer Camp.

The five-day camp is held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. beginning Monday and lasting through Friday at Goodale Park on Wrightsboro Road. Applications, which will be accepted as late as Monday when children age 6-16 are dropped off at the camp, will be available at the camp, City Hall and the Grovetown Department of Public Safety on Robinson Avenue.

The activity-filled camp run by the department also includes drug education for campers.

"It's more of getting the kids involved with the police officers and with volunteers from the military community," Capt. Gary Owens, of the Grovetown Department of Public Safety, said.

Owens said the Columbia County Sheriff's Office's Gang Resistance Education Training officers also will help supervise the event.

City Councilwoman Marjorie Adams started the camp 12 years ago after being a school mentor and D.A.R.E. program volunteer.

"The kids, I thought, 'They don't have a thing to do.' So I started the camp," Adams said. "It's something for the kids to do ... And they have a ball."

The camp days involve sports such as kickball, baseball, basketball, soccer and lots of playground time.

Adams said all meals, equipment and facilities are provided at no cost.

The arrival of fire trucks, which provide a cool spray of water for the campers to play and cool off in, usually is the highlight of the camp, Owens said.

Owens said children can be dropped off at the park as early as 8:30 a.m. For more information, call the department at 863-1212.