Camp Focuses on Changing Teenagers Lives in Douglas County

In Douglas County a camp is helping change hundreds of lives each year. But this is not just any camp, China Springs Youth Camp is dedicated to helping mid-level offenders in our state get back on track. 

From the outside it may look like a regular camp, a rock climbing wall, gardening and activities such as reading and chess, but this camp is so much more. "Low to moderate risk offenders, all children who have been in trouble that have been in the court system for some type of delinquent behavior," says the camp's Assistant Director, Derrick Lopez. 

All the residents here are court ordered by a judge. "They come in with low self-esteem and lack or motivation," explains Andrea Pawling, Program Manager for the camp.

China Spring Youth Camp has residents from the ages of 12 to 18, and each resident has been court ordered to be there for six months or more. In that time period they go to school, can take college credit classes as well as follow certain rules and guidelines to help them grow as an individual. "When they come in they don't have a lot of social skills and they don't have tools in their tool box to contribute to the community," explains Pawling. 

As well as receive some experience from fly fishing, gardening, wood working  and even fixing bikes. "To provide them with an extra skill they didn't have before and to put something on their resume when they get out here," says Pawling. As well as counseling to help with drug and alcohol addiction.

One of their programs is to help fix hundreds of bikes each year. At the end they are donated to Project Santa Claus that help give hundreds of families a Christmas to remember in Douglas County. "I think I will take that with me for the rest of my life. That is something I will never forget," says resident Brandon Jose.

"I see communities like this and I think this is great and I want to be a part of it, it makes me feel humble," explains resident Sean Greenlee, both Greenlee and Jose not only help fix the bikes but also handed them out to families this past year. 

China Spring Youth Camp aims to make sure their residents do not go to a state facility, such as Elko and Caliente. They have an 86% success rate for boys and a 94% rate for girls.

They currently have 38 boys and 16 girls at the camp. They can hold 40 boys and 20 girls. 

For more information on China Springs Youth Camp visit: https://douglasdistrictcourt.com/china-spring-youth-camp/