Trooper Island Camp, Inc., a summer camp operated by the Kentucky State Police in Clinton County, closed out it’s 50th season of camp last week.

The camp, situated on an island in the southwest corner of Clinton County on Dale Hollow Lake, is operated by the Kentucky State Police entirely on donations and funds collected through various fundraising.

The camp provides at-risk and underprivileged boys and girls from across Kentucky, ages 10-12, the opportunity to attend a summer camp and participate in a host of educational and recreational activities including swimming, archery, boating, firearms safety and sports.

The campers spend the week sharing the camp experience alongside officers from the Kentucky State Police who work in the campers’ home areas. The campers are hand selected by the KSP Troopers and likely would not have otherwise had the opportunity to attend a summer camp.

In addition to the above mentioned activities, the campers are also permitted to attend a Wednesday afternoon non-demonimational chapel service experience that is hosted by the Albany First Baptist Church.

Established by the late Gayle Smith, the weekly chapel service continues today under the leadership of his son, Allen Smith, who has continued to coordinate the weekly effort for the past several years. Volunteer speakers from the Albany First Baptist Church rotate each Wednesday to deliver the non-denominational message and the service also includes several musical presentations that are designed to encourage camper participation.

In the top photo, Sam Flowers, standing at right, a Trooper Island counselor from Albany, instructs the group of campers last week as to how they would assemble prior to making the trip to the northern end of Trooper Island for the chapel service.

At left, Albany First Baptist member Val Lulaks hands campers a copy of the New Testament as they enter the chapel prior to the start of the service. The campers are each given a copy of the New Testament to keep, a program that is funded by the local church.

Below, Allen Smith is shown leading the campers in a song near the close of the service Wednesday. Standing behind Smith are camp counselors who also attend the service each week.