Graduation marks fresh start for campers

By Jamie Rogers
Morning News Reporter
Published: July 25, 2008

CHERAW — Friday symbolized a beginning and somewhat of an ending for 106 at-risk children and the lead prosecutor who started a camp to save them from adverse futures.

The annual graduation held at the conclusion of Camp Turning Point — a camp for children ages 11 and 16 who have committed nonviolent offenses or have truancy problems — was a new beginning for the 63 boys and 43 girls who completed the program this year.

The camp, which was held at Camp Juniper at Cheraw State Park, is in its 10th year and serves offenders in the 4th Circuit, which includes Chesterfield, Darlington, Dillon and Marlboro counties.

Fourth Circuit Solicitor Jay Hodge said the camp is an ending for problematic behavior and the beginning of a new life course for most of the camp’s participants.

“It’s a new beginning for eight out of 10 of them,” he said. “Eight out of 10 of them do not come back into the juvenile justice system.”

The camp has an 87 percent success rate, which means 87 percent of graduates from the camp do not re-offend, according to data from the solicitor’s office.

“(At the camp), they are exposed to other young people who are successful and who don’t come from any more rewarding financial circumstances than they do,” Hodge said. “They will compare their situation with the situations of these other young people. They say ‘if they can make it, there’s no reason why I can’t make it.”

Cheraw resident Dalquana Lang, 16, said she’s going to try her best to stay out of trouble in the future.

“I learned to be good the next time,” Lang said. “This is an ending (for me.) I’m not getting in anymore trouble. It taught me a lesson.”

Lang and other girls participated in the weeklong Camp Turn Around, the female segment of the Camp Turning Point program. 

Lang’s mother, Loresa Dixon, who attended camp graduation Friday, said this is Lang’s second time at the camp and she can avoid re-offending by choosing her friends more wisely.

“It’s tough,” Dixon said. “I’ve got two. I try. That’s all I’ve got to do is try.”

Parents who are active in their child’s life can help prevent them from becoming criminals, Hodge said.

It also helps them avoid joining gangs, which is a growing problem in the 4th Circuit, he said.

“First of all, they need to hang with the right people,” he said. “Unfortunately, a lot of people in law enforcement have been slow to embrace and recognized the idea that we have a terrible, terrible problem with gangs and it’s growing everyday. These children, no one else is paying any attention to them ... They form these silly ridiculous gangs and it’s one of the worst things they are facing in society.”

During the camps, children are exposed to positive role models and receive presentations from law enforcement, the U.S. National Guard, social agencies and faith-based groups, he said.

Children also participate in swimming, crafts, youth arts and equine therapy — all designed to reform behavior, Hodge said. 

Dillon resident Delaney Leach, 16, said the camp taught him little, but he did manage to take away one valuable thing.

“Patience,” he said. “I improved on my patience.”

Hodge, who is retiring after 12 years, said he hopes the camp will be able to continue serving youths such as Leach and Lang

“This isn’t an ending,” he said. “Everything is just a beginning. There are many more things to be done and I’m confident that (4th Circuit solicitor-elect) Will Rogers will continue these programs and start new ones.”