Camp Challenge works to build trust between kids and police officers

BRISTOL, Tenn. — Some kids in the area are making new friends, but not with kids their age.

Camp Challenge is a yearly summer camp program held by the Bristol, Tenn. Police Department (BTPD). Community programs officer Nathan Greene of BPTD says the goal is to build trust between kids and police.

"Police are not out just to arrest people,” said Greene.

The week-long day camp is filled with various activities for the kids like paddle boating, going to the movies and tie-dying t-shirts. The kids do these activities alongside the officers.

"I think now especially, not so much in our area, but around the country - the perception of police is not the highest at the moment. So, I think it's more important now than it used to be that these kids know we're their friends," said Greene.

BTPD has offered a summer camp program for about 20 years. Only in 2008 did the program formally become “Camp Challenge” and fully funded by the city of Bristol, Tenn.

The camp is free for all participants. There is such high demand for this program that it’s already at full capacity this year. The department definitely plans on continuing the program next summer though.

"It's not in any stretch or form a police recruitment tool. It's all about building a relationship with the kids,” Greene added.

One participant I talked to is a rising fifth grader, Savannah Blevins. Blevins realizes the benefits.

"If there was a real situation where you needed to have a police officer come over or talk to them, then you would feel comfortable with that,” said Blevins.