By Elizabeth Bonin, Staff writer

(August 1, 2019) The Berlin Police Department treated 43 children of the Berlin Youth Club to an afternoon at the Jolly Roger Amusement Park on July 10. The day started with the Berlin police providing lunch for the kids and taking them to Baked Desserts for cookies. At Jolly Roger, the police connected with the kids through amusement park rides and water park activities.

“We definitely know the value of kids having interactive things to do throughout the summer,” Berlin Police Chief Arnold Downing said.

The Berlin Youth Club summer camp for kids six to 12 years old typically holds summer activities at Ayer’s Creek Adventures, the Berlin Library and the Red Doors Community Center.

This is the fourth year in a row the police have taken the kids to Jolly Roger. Both the police and the Youth Club feel it’s important, since it would otherwise be a high-cost event for families or Worcester Youth & Family Counseling Services (WYFSC).

“The best part of getting to work with these kids is exposing them to different people, places, and things and activities that they might not necessarily get a chance to do and to see them step outside of their comfort zone and try new things,” said Tiffany Scott, head of youth programs at WYFSC. “That’s the absolute best part. You’re giving them an opportunity.”

Downing also finds the event valuable because the kids see the officers outside “of the role as police officers in the police car or wearing the uniform. They get to see us outside of that and to slide down the slide with the officers or go in the wave pool.”

Tiffany Scott, head of youth programs at WYFSC, agrees that it’s essential to foster the relationship between young people and police officers.

“They’re in the community all the time,” Scott said. “It’s great to have their support — letting the youth know that they care about them, enough to do something like that and continue to do it year after year.”

She’s especially grateful for Downing’s involvement.

“He’s always willing to come out and help,” Scott said.

She noted that it wasn’t just the Berlin Youth Club that went to Jolly Roger, but also the Support Adolescent Boys through Education and Resources (SABERS) group and the girl’s program (SAGES).

The Berlin police and WYFSC are looking forward to their next event at Altitude Trampoline Park and Delmar Pizza in Delmar on Aug. 14.

“The community has been good about donating their time and resources to the youth club,” Scott said. “We’re very appreciative about that.”

For more information about the Berlin Youth Club, call 410-641-4598.

The Berlin Police Department will host their National Night Out on Tuesday Aug. 6 from 4-7 p.m. at Henry Park on 117 Flower St. For more information, call 410-641-1333.