Explorers get hands-on experience in special camp

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By HEATHER RUPPE

A group of teens who are participating in the 2021 Explorer Training camp with the Colleton County Sheriff’s Office recently took flight and learned new skills during a recent hands-on camp.

The camp was held in Wadmalaw Island in South Carolina, at Camp Ho Non Wah.

Four of the sheriff’s office current eight explorers attended the camp. Explorers within the sheriff’s office program get real-life experience in law enforcement, which prepares them for a possible law enforcement career.

“The purpose of the camp was to expose explorers to different areas of law enforcement at both the state and federal level,” said Shalane Lowes, spokesman for the Colleton County Sheriff’s Office. The sheriff’s office operates the volunteer explorer program, which is for teens and young adults in Colleton County.

“The Drug Enforcement Agency (D.E.A.) taught the explorers about the dangers of drugs. The Federal Bureau of Investigations (F.B.I.) taught the explorers about human trafficking and how to preserve a crime scene. Several state agencies (Charleston Police, South Carolina Highway Patrol, Department of Natural Recourses) talked about their specific functions in law enforcement,” Lowes said. “The training was both classroom instruction and hands-on training.”

The explorers finished their training at this camp on July 21st. This was also their graduation date from the camp. “It (the camp) gave the Explorer Advisors an opportunity to see what leadership potential the explorers have,” said Lowes.

“The explorers that attended the camp will bring their new skills and knowledge into the program and teach their peers what they learned about the different areas of law enforcement.”