By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

MORE THAN 4,000 children will participate in this year’s Royal Bahamas Police Force Summer Camp, which officially begins next Monday.

The camp, held under the theme “Catch the Vision”, is celebrating its 20th anniversary by adding more activities for the children and holding a march from Police Headquarters to Rawson Square with the Urban Renewal Band.

There are nine camps in New Providence and seven in the Family Islands.

Inspector Chrislyn Skippings said the camp is designed to give young people a safe environment in which to play, learn and develop their social skills.

“This is the 20th year for our police summer camp and so we have a number of activities planned. Let me say that the camp begins on Monday, July 1, and it will run for six weeks. It concludes on Friday, August 9, with a talent extravaganza at the National Centre for Performing Arts,” Sgt Skippings said.

“The mission of the camp is to inspire and enable all people, especially young people from disadvantaged circumstances, to realise their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens through the medium of academics, music, sports and community involvements.

“Camp begins 9am and runs until 2pm. We are asking parents to please be mindful of the time and be sure you have a responsible adult pick up the children.

“During the camp this year, we have a number of activities planned. Each camp will be very unique in that all of them are going to cover some arts and craft, some of them will cover conflict resolution but each of them will have something different and special for kids to participate in.”

The opening ceremony will take place at the Evangelistic Temple on Monday at 9am. Minster of National Security Dr Bernard Nottage is expected to make remarks.

Following the ceremony, a parade will head south from the church along Collins Avenue to Gibbs Corner, north along East Street to Bay Street, and west along Bay Street to Parliament Street.

Once in Parliament Square, there will be a brief ‘Countdown to Independence’ ceremony and then the children will march back to Police Headquarters.

Inspector Skippings also appealed to members of corporate Bahamas to donate to the camp in anyway they can.

“A lot of times the kids that come, they come hungry, they don’t have a meal to eat. Some of them are depending on the camp to take them through the course of the day and so to the corporate sponsors who have no yet assisted us, please reach out.

“We ask you in your own tangible way to see how best you can help us. A lot of people are looking for a safe environment for their kids this summer, she said.

“This camp is by far the best camp in the Bahamas and is the safest camp where you want to make sure your kids are this summer. The camp is for persons between the age of eight and 17, however we will take persons at 7, especially the Band Camp. So if persons are looking for somewhere to have their kids this summer, we are asking you to bring them down to the RBPF summer camp.”