Trooper Island welcomes kids from across the Commonwealth - WDRB 41 Louisville News

TROOPER ISLAND, Ky. (WDRB) --Beautiful scenery, weather, and water, it's everything you want in a summer getaway.

Going to the lake is a tradition for some kids, but most of them have probably never been to an island in the middle of it.

Trooper Island serves as a camp for kids who may not normally be able to go.

"When they get in our swimming pool here, it may be one of the first times they've ever been in the swimming pool. They've never been in the lake before, they've never been fishing," KSP Trooper Brad Arterburn said.

"It could be that their parents were arrested, there was a domestic issue, or they're simply just under privileged, as far as financial status goes," said Trooper Island Camp Director, Endre Samu.

Kentucky State Police operate the island that is partially in Kentucky and Tennessee. Of KSP's 16 posts across the Commonwealth, each hub gets to invite around 30 or 40 kids for their selected week of each summer.

Eleven-year-old Brett Herbig of Henry County is one of them, having the time of his life. "Trooper Island is the best camp in the world," he said. Herbig gets to canoe, fish, and swim.

Fun is part of the goal, but forming bonds, and learning that there's always hope for a better tomorrow is really what it's all about. Whether the campers realize it or not, the week on Trooper Island often does change their outlooks on life.

"Over the course of the years, we've had 52 campers here that have gone on to become KSP troopers, so we know we're making some sort of impact," Arterburn said.

Many others ended up in jobs they never knew they could perform. It's a rewarding experience not only for who it's meant to help, but also for the people who are doing the helping. "You can see a smile on the child's face, but you can also see the depth of their happiness. And, that's a great reward," Samu said.

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