BRUNSWICK — A Brunswick summer camp that aims to create positive relationships between law enforcement and Maine children celebrated its 25th year during the camp’s June 16-22 season.

Camp POSTCARD (Police Officers Striving To Create and Reinforce Dreams) is a free week-long camp where all the camp counselors are Maine police officers who volunteer their time. Members of agencies all over the state, including sheriffs, troopers, and municipal workers, come together each year for the camp, with the aim of mentoring and encouraging campers while simultaneously improving their view of law enforcement.

Waldo County Sheriff Jeffrey Trafton, who returned to the camp for his eighteenth year in a row, said he continues to go back year after year because the cause is such an important one.

“These are kids that, were it not for the Sheriff’s Association and other law enforcement agencies and Volunteers of America (VOA), these kids wouldn’t have a chance to go to camp. My background, I came from a very financially disadvantaged family, so I would have been one of those eligible families to go to something like that,” he said.

The idea of going to summer camp was something Trafton said he dreamed of as a child, but was unable due to cost.

“That’s kind of a sentimental spark for me too,” he said.

In 2017, 163 children from each of Maine’s 16 counties attended the camp, which provides campers with a week of exploration, outdoor recreation, healthy activities, and educational opportunities, according to VOA.

More than 55 officers (current and retired) volunteer to spend 24 hours per day at the camp for its full seven-day run, with some Camp POSTCARD leaders returning every year for 10-20 years. VOA states that the goal of volunteering officers is to “give children an experience that will enrich their lives and give them hope for the future. During [the] week, campers will experience officers as caring and fun-loving people primarily concerned with the well-being of children.”

Trafton said building a positive relationship between law enforcement and children is an important aspect of the camp.

“Many of these kids come from tough circumstances where law enforcement aren’t necessarily considered to be their friends, so it gives us a chance to show them the human side of law enforcement.”

While he didn’t make it down for the entire week, Trafton said the Sheriff’s Office did have two corporals who stayed for the duration, including Corporal Darrin Moody, who is in the patrol division, and Corporal Walter  Wagner, who is in the corrections division. Both men are on their third year of spending the week with Camp POSTCARD.

This year marked the first time for VOA’s Erica Koch, who spent the week amongst the many campers. Koch said she had seen pictures and heard stories about the camp prior to her attendance, but to see it in person was a completely different experience.

“To see the campers interact with the leaders and with each other was rewarding. A lot of people do a lot of things to get camp ready each year and to see it all come together and have all the hard work pay off is just a bonus in comparison to what the campers get to take away. Seeing that makes it all worth it and then some, she said.”

Trafton said the Sheriff’s Office has sent members of the Maine Coastal Regional Reentry Center to work on preparing the camp for prior to campers’ arrivals.

There was a special banquet celebrating the camp’s 25th anniversary held at this year’s camp June 21, where many people who have been involved over the years were honored.

As for his favorite memory from this year’s camp, Trafton said serving kids in the chow line is always fun. For full effect, counselors wear hats and aprons made by the campers while they serve the meal.

“We always have so much fun doing that, the kids always respond to us.”

This year also included a 300-400 strong happy birthday sing-along in honor of Franklin County Sheriff Scott Nichols Sr.

“It was awesome,” Trafton said.

Erica Thoms can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com