Richland County Sheriff’s Department offering multi-curricula summer camps for kids

Fourteen different summer camp opportunities led by deputies for the community

By W. Thomas Smith Jr.

The Richland County Sheriff’s Department (RCSD) is now accepting applications for this year’s RCSD summer camps.

Facilitated by RCSD deputies throughout June and July and hosted at various schools within Richland County, RCSD summer camps are geared toward students of varying ages, elementary through high school, and offer everything from leadership development, to sports, to arts-and-crafts for kids among other curricula.

The camps include:

STARS OF TOMORROW CAMP for rising 3^rd–5^th graders. The first session will be held June 17-27 at St. Andrews Middle School. The second session will be held July 8-18 at River Springs Elementary School. For more information, contact Deputy Andrew Roberts at (803) 622-9907 or email [email protected].

 

CHARACTER CAMP for rising 6^th–7^th graders. The first session will be held June 17-27 at St. Andrews Middle School. The second session will be held July 8-18 at River Springs Elementary School. For more information, contact Deputy Todd Minemier at (803) 309-1347 or email [email protected].

FUN WITH FORENSICS CAMP for rising 5^th–8^th graders. The first session will be held June 17-27 at Dent Middle School. The second session will be held July 8-18 at Columbia High School. For more information, contact Deputy Terrance Hobson at (803) 309-5067 or email [email protected].

SPORTS CAMP for rising 7^th–9^th graders. The first session will be held June 17-27 at Dent Middle School. The second session will be held July 8-18 at Columbia High School. For more information, contact Deputy Carl Stout at (803) 543-4308 or email [email protected].

LEADERSHIP CAMP for rising 8^th–10^th graders. The first session will be held June 17-27 at Dreher High School. The second session, also at Dreher, will be held July 8-18. For more information, contact Deputy Tara Dukes at (803) 760-9738 or email [email protected].

BASKETBALL CAMP for rising 6^th– 12^th graders. The first session will be held June 17-27 at Muller Road Middle School. The second session will be held July 8-18 at Crane Creek Gym (7405-B Fairfield Road). For more information, contact Deputy Terry Dozier at (803) 543-5344 or email [email protected].

ARTS & CRAFTS CAMP for rising 3^rd – 5^th graders. The first session will be held June 17-27 at Ballentine Elementary School. The second session will be held July 8-18 at St. Andrews Middle School. For more information, contact Deputy Rachel Myers at
(803) 543-1029 or email [email protected].

“Our Richland County Sheriff’s Department Summer Camps are developed and led by our deputies as yet another means by which we can give back, enhance, and support our communities,” said Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott. “What we teach in these camps is not only wholesome and beneficial to the children participating, but it’s a great way for them to interact with our deputies – and they with them – in ways that are fun and mutually bonding. It gives our kids something constructive to do for a portion of their summer. And the parents always see the positive good that comes from the overall camp experience.”

The fee is only $60 per person for each session (camp), and the application is available online at https://www.rcsd.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Summer-Camp-Application-2024.pdf.

For additional information, please contact the Richland County Sheriff’s Department’s Summer Camp Coordinator Deputy Linda Kirkland at (803) 518-5295 or email her at [email protected].

– Pictured is Capt. Danny Brown with children from one of last year’s RCSD Summer Camps.