Youngsters from around state converge on Chicota Youth Camp

Fifty 11- and 12-year-olds from throughout the state came to the Chicota Youth Camp off Highway 106, five miles east of Bayou Chicot, for the annual summer camp program.
The camp director since the first summer camp at Chicota in 1999 has been Robert Guilbeaux. The adult counselors are members of the Cemtral States Troopers Coalition of Louisiana. The president of the coalition, Therman Miller, also takes part in Chicota Youth Camp activities during the week.
Twenty-five state troopers and Louisiana Office of the Attorney General employees are counselors who keep the the youngsters busy with activities during the week-long camp that ended Friday. Assisting the adult counselors were eight junior counselors -- usually sons or daughters of state law enforcement personnel -- who have participated in the Chicota summer camp program.
The young campers are organized into four groups, or blocks, that are involved in different activities so all participating campers participate in all camp activities.
One of the activities that enhance the campers is horseback riding. Campers in the block who have some experience with horses are the first to climb onto the saddle as a junior counselor holds the reins. Campers see there is no problem and overcome any initial fear they have. When they do that, they enhance their self confidence, Guilbeaux said.
The camp offers a variety of activities geared toward learning leadership skills, building character, self confidence and self respect, and communication and listening skills. They also learn about good grooming habits, etiquette, fire safety as well as health and nutrition.
Campers also go to nearby Chicot State Park, where they hike on nature trails and visit the arboretum and Nature Interpretive Center. As one block was preparing to go fishing, the counselor asked for a show of hands of who has not baited a hook before. Then he said the counselors would show them how. That block was scheduled for a hike that afternoon. “Listen to us and we’ll have a great day,” he said.
In one of the safety activities, the campers draw a diagram their homes and create an evacuation plan. Almost all of the different programs involve safety issues.
Guilbeaux said state troopers have learned from experience that children learn some bad habits, perhaps without their parents knowledge, about using seat belts. He said they get into the habit of clicking the seat belt on, but then they release themselves from the strap that is supposed to restrain their shoulder. Counselors who specialize in vehicle safety make sure the campers know how to properly use seat belts. That was included in a vehicle safety session approved by the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission, presented by counselor Anthony Pitts.
The theme of last week’s camp was “Moving Forward in a Positive Direction,” and the logo was a fleur de lis. Guilbeaux said that logo was chosen because it is so prevalent in the area. He said youngsters who attend the camp when they see the design later in life and remember their camp experiences.
Guilbeaux said he meets Chicota campers years after they have gone to the camp. He knows some that have gone on to NFL careers, received Bill Gates scholarships and succeeded in other notable achievements. A few have gone through the jail system. But he said all the ones he has met have positive memories of their experiences at the camp.