South Bend Police Athletic League uses free summer sports camps to strengthen community ties
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Summer sports camps usually focus on improving a jump shot, perfecting a tennis serve or learning the fundamentals of a new game. But at one South Bend program, organizers say the lessons extend far beyond athletics.
The South Bend Police Athletic League is hosting free summer sports camps from June through the end of July for children ages 7 to 18. The camps offer a variety of activities, including volleyball, swimming, boxing, track and field, and tennis, with tennis actually drawing some of the largest groups based at Navarre Middle School.
While the camps teach sports skills, organizers say their primary goal is to build relationships between local police officers and the community’s youth.
“It just shows that you shouldn’t be afraid of them, and they are here to help you,” said Maya Ewing, a team leader with the South Bend Police Athletic League. “Some people look at police with fear, but when you connect with them in this kind of environment, it changes that.”
Rather than meeting young people during emergencies or difficult situations, officers spend time with them through games and practices.
Because the program is free, organizers say it also removes a financial barrier that can prevent some families from enrolling their children in organized summer activities. The long-term objective, organizers say, is not necessarily to develop future athletes but to create familiarity and trust between officers and the next generation.
Officer Spencer Davis said those personal interactions can change how children view law enforcement long after the camp ends.
“That’s what this is all about,” Davis said. “It’s building those bridges because when they see me as human, they can see other officers on the street as human when they interact with them and see that they’re not so separated.”
About 40 children attended Tuesday’s tennis camp. Organizers hope every drill and high-five helps strengthen those relationships so that if a child ever needs help in the future, reaching out to a police officer feels a little more natural.