Big Brothers Big Sisters Lacombe is well into their summer programing as they are currently in the middle of the Kids and Kops Camp week, as the kids spend some time with members of Blackfalds RCMP and the Lacombe Police Service.

Executive Director of Big Brothers Big Sisters Lacombe Crystal Zens explains why this week is beneficial for the kids.

“It’s a program that’s based on police mentoring. This is our 11th summer facilitating it. It’s a really fun camp for kids; they get to experience all different kinds of police activities, build relationships with our local police forces. The RCMP in Blackfalds and the Lacombe Police both collaborate with us to facilitate the camp.”

Zens says summer is a big time for them, as they are dealing with the all the kids who are out of school, while they prepare for kids to go back to class in the fall.

“We are going to be recruiting a lot at all the community events, like the farmers market, Lacombe Days. This is our big season for recruiting volunteers and mentors, so we have enough to match all the kids on the wait list for the in-school mentoring program which kicks off in September.”

They are also involved in a number of different charity events throughout the summer.

“We’re also facilitating a lot of third party fundraisers. We’re involved in the Gord Bamford Gala and Golf Tournament, and different activities like that.”

The Kids and Kops Camp goes all week.  On Tuesday, the kids participated in mock ride along with the officers, and they were scheduled to make trips to Bowers Ponds, and also play laser tag on Wednesday.

Sunny 94 also donated their lease payment for the month of July for the Bamford House, to help keep the doors of the Big Brothers Big Sisters headquarters open.

They are currently about halfway to paying off their lease, with sponsorships already spoken for well into 2019.

For more information about Big Brothers Big Sisters Lacombe, or to be their landlord for a month, you can click here to check out their website.