The LaSalle Parish Sheriff’s Office hosted its first-ever Camp 911 last week, a three-day youth summer camp designed to introduce local teenagers to careers in law enforcement, emergency medical services and firefighting while educating them on opioid prevention.
Eighteen youth between the ages of 10 and 16 attended the camp, which was funded in part by Opioid Abatement Settlement Funds. Sheriff Windham spearheaded the program, partnering with the Jena Fire Department and Hardtner Medical Center to provide hands-on experiences across all three career fields.
Deputy Jenny Parker, LPSO DARE instructor, led daily lessons on opioid abuse prevention throughout the camp.
Day One: Law Enforcement
On the first day, campers met with law enforcement agencies from across the state, including the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Louisiana State Police and Louisiana Probation and Parole.
Deputies from the LaSalle Parish Sheriff’s Office representing patrol, investigations and the K-9 unit also spoke with the group, sharing firsthand accounts of their work and providing demonstrations of various facets of their jobs.
Day Two: Emergency Medicine
Campers visited Hardtner Medical Center on the second day, where staff from Hardtner Ambulance and the emergency room walked them through the demands of emergency medicine careers.
Youth participated in CPR training, Stop the Bleed protocols and patient triage simulations. They were able to use the tools of EMS to get a real-life experience in the emergency medical field.
Day Three: Firefighting
On the final day, campers trained with the Jena Fire Department, donning turnout gear and self-contained breathing apparatus to experience the physical demands of firefighting. Live field exercises included instruction on truck pumping mechanics and nozzle techniques.
One of the highlights was being able to operate the fire hoses and spraying water with accuracy.
Sheriff Windham said the camp was designed to build lasting connections between local youth and the public safety community.
Camp 911 is the first program of its kind offered by the La-Salle Parish Sheriff’s Office.
“We were honored to be able to host this camp and hope that this is the first of many,” Sheriff Windham said. “We appreciate all of our partners who helped make this camp so successful.”
The LaSalle Parish Sheriff’s Office also has another camp coming up July 14-16, entitled Camp C.S.I. This camp is open to students in grades 6-12 and will introduce the students to forensic science, hands-on learning and practical application along with final immersive investigation and crime scene analysis.
For more information about this upcoming free camp, contact Deputy Jenny Parker at (318) 992-7364 or jparker@lasalleso.com.
