WAFB Channel 9, Baton Rouge, LA |July 16, 2008 - "Camp Win-A-Friend"
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"Left, left, left-right-left..." A group of youngsters marches through the woods and along the river. If it looks like discipline...well, that's part of it. But it's discipline with a smile and gentle touch--with fun in the sun.
At Camp Win-A-Friend kids learn life lessons from Louisiana State Troopers. Fresh from a canoe ride on the lake, Skylar Albert of Livingston says he has learned all sorts of things from the Troopers.
"Have they been some of the friends you made here?" I ask.
"Yes, sir."
"What do you think of them?"
"Good, friendly, nice," says Skylar.
Skylar, who wants to be a policeman some day, says Camp Win-A-Friend has made him even more determined. He grins like a possum eating sweet potatoes as one of the friendly troopers puts him behind the wheel of a squad car and shows him how to operate the blue lights and blow the siren. But the best part is a ride Skylar gets in a State Police car.
How was the ride?
"Cool!"
By the Tickfaw River near Holden, youngsters from across the state learn B-B gun marksmanship and toss horseshoes.
Carl Patrik of Opelousas gave me a lesson in horseshoes. His landed about four inches from the stake. Mine-- Well, let's be charitable and say it wasn't that close. I could lie about it, but Trooper Markus Smith tells me, "The whole camp is designed to build character with these kids--try to instill values in them, try to instill morals while they're here, teach them leadership skills."
For 30 years kids have made friends and built confidence at Camp Win-A-Friend.
The camp is funded by the State Police and the Louisiana Trooper Foundation. And here's something you didn't know. In it's early days Camp Win-A-Friend was kept afloat by a generous gift from Elvis Presley. The King was then made an honorary Louisiana State Trooper.
