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ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) - A program that’s benefitted youth in Dougherty County for nearly 30 years is getting ready to kick off again in just a few days.

The Albany-Dougherty Youth Unit Summer Program is a character education camp. That means the camp will focus on fostering positive character and leadership traits.

Sheriff Terron Hayes said this camp gives children an opportunity to learn in a fun way over summer break.

“We’ll have guest speakers come in to present. They’ll see some professionals during career day,” Sheriff Hayes said. “They can see things that they inspire to be in life and see that those things are truly and realistically there for them to experience.”

The sheriff said the camp will have guest speakers, and because this camp comes at no cost to parents, it’s a game changer for those trying to make ends meet.

“Parents simply just ain’t got it. With cutbacks to federal grants, anything we can get free and positive for our kids, we definitely need it,” Captain Ronnye Nelson with Dougherty County Crime Prevention said.

Sheriff Hayes said without county partners, this free camp wouldn’t be possible.

“We’re definitely concerned with our crime rate and violence in our community,” Sheriff Hayes said. “One thing that we can do is give the kids an outlet to keep them off the streets and being involved in mischief — giving them something productive to do.”

The camp starts Monday, May 27 for ages eight through 14, and will include lunch at no cost. All parents have to provide is transportation to and from the camp Monday through Friday until June 27.

For more information on the camp, email Captain Ronnye Nelson at [email protected] or Sergeant Matthew Faulk at [email protected].

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