Holmes County kids participate in Junior Deputy Camp

HOLMES COUNTY, Fla. ( WMBB ) – Holmes County kids are learning about the life of a sheriff’s deputy and what it takes to protect and serve.

They celebrated the final day of junior deputy camp Wednesday with water slides and their very own junior deputy badges.

They said this experience has opened their eyes. Since 2010, kids between the ages of 8 and 14 have been attending the Holmes County Sheriff’s Office Junior Deputy Camp.

This year, 30 kids attended the West Pittman Baptist Church in Westville for the experience of a lifetime.

The three-day “Junior Deputy Camp 2024” began Monday.

“Although it’s a camp that he has hosted for several years. And this is actually the first time that this camp has been on this side of the county, which is an amazing opportunity for these kids,” West Pittman Baptist Children and Family Leader Catherine Peel said.

On Monday, the kids got to see the ins and outs of a helicopter and go boating with Florida fish and wildlife.

On Tuesday, they learned about archery. Some even got to shoot shotguns.

On Wednesday they got to see how K-9 deputies operate in the field. The kids got to meet the tracking dog, Dixie, and therapy dog, Colt. They were a fan-favorite among the campers.

“So my favorite thing that I definitely got at camp this year was probably seeing the dog team,” camper Bradley Morris said.

“She’s a very nice dog want to be like a dog officer, Canine officer,” camper Gavin Masonbring and Harmon McCroan said.

“It’s been a good week. And I think the best part is, is we get to watch them engage in some of the things that we do on a daily basis. We’ve had some canine teams come in just different aspects of what law enforcement does, and they get to participate in some of that and kind of like to see what it’s like to feel like what we do,” Holmes County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Adrienne Wimberly said.

Campers ended Wednesday enjoying the bouncy house, playing on the inflatable water slide, and receiving their very own junior deputy badge.

“It’s just been a positive experience, a positive impact for not only our community, these kiddos but allowing these kids to foster a respectful relationship with our law enforcement,” Wimberly said.

Many of the campers added that they will definitely be back next year.

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