COPAC Day Youth Camp Program
COPAC Day Youth Camp Program and Activities
The City of Plaquemine Activity Center (COPAC) is the former Plaquemine High School site located at 24130 Ferdinand Street in the heart of the city.
A reconditioned grass track and football field with added lighting provides a year-round walking senior track which is open from dawn to dusk. Local teams use the field for practice football, soccer and baseball sessions. Both uses have become popular with city residents. A restored gymnasium, built during the W.P.A. era, is now used on a regular basis by a variety of basketball teams for practices, games and tournaments. Some local schools enjoy the availability of COPAC’s facilities when their team populations overflow their school capacity use, but COPAC also hosts basketball practices, tournaments and World Games for Biddy Basketball, a national organization. The gym is open by appointment only and must be scheduled. A quick call to the mayor’s office can inform you of the availability and fees of the Gym & Field.
The Plaquemine Renegades, a local team of the Riverside Independent Football League and the Baton Rouge Riverboat Bandits of the Southern American Football League (semi-pro-team) are regular users of COPAC field facilities. COPAC gym and football field is available for school teams and community groups for basketball practice, games and special events that are open to the public.
In March 1996, an interim COPAC board was created. The City Planning and Zoning Board and members of the former City Recreational Commission volunteered to serve. In June 2000, the Board was revamped and thus the Camp Coalition Board was begun. Members were selected due to their overwhelming active participation in every camp since its inception. In addition, Mayor Tony Gulotta requested five area schools to each appoint a school youth representative to join on the Board. Each school eagerly responded and some appointed two youths. Due to the interest and excitement of the school youths, COPAC Youth Board has been formed with over 15 youths meeting on a regular basis. The two boards have collaborative objectives. They oversee planning and operation of COPAC programs. The programs offer varied athletic and social activities and games with a component of recreational and educational experiences in a fun-filled learning atmosphere.
The City has sponsored COPAC Youth Day Camps during the summer for kids age 7 to 15 since 1996. The day camps are staffed by city workers and volunteers, along with high school students who work as junior mentors. The campers are offered a wide variety of activities, including arts and crafts, sports, games, educational sessions, demonstrations, etc. More than 5,000 youths have attended the camps since their inception. Our campers are mixed racially with diverse backgrounds. The mix of campers has been encouraging and their non-confrontational behavior during the camp sessions has been astonishing!
Since 1996, nearly 100 various federal, state and local organizations and businesses have supported the camps, providing donations of office furniture, equipment, games, computers, books, transportation, volunteers and meals for campers. As of Year 2006, over 15,000 volunteer hours from parental and community volunteers, coaches, local organizations and agencies have been given to these busy camp sessions. This represents the strong support, interest and commitment of the community-at-large of the sessions which were held during school holidays and summertime. Contributors and volunteers include, but not limited to, Acadian Ambulance, Elks, Ashland Chemical, Boy Scouts, Burger King, Casino Rouge, Fred's Discount, Dow Chemical Company, U.S.D.A. Farmers' Home Administration, Iberville Parish Police Jury, City Fire Dept., 4-H Club, Iberville Parish School Board, McDonald's, Pepsi Cola, City Court, Sherwin-Williams, Wal-Mart, Zeneca Ag Products, Winn-Dixie, TCI Cable, Sonic Drive-In, City Marshal, D.A.R.E. Program, Sheriffs Office, National Guard, Coast Guard, Hugh Baxley, CPA, and Georgia-Gulf Corporation. Numerous local business merchants, non-profit organizations, local fraternities and sororities, area church ministers, grandparents and concerned and loving individuals have participated directly with the planning, implementing and executing of our successful camp sessions for youths.
Day Camp preparations include mandatory training sessions for adult and junior mentors. Training includes behavior modification, health and safety of campers, and other job readiness skills presented by professional community leaders. Volunteer youths aged 14-15 work with teens 16 year old and older to lead and supervise campers in hands-on activities. Adult mentors are recruited through the Iberville Parish School Board to insure individual participation and fair play. Our Community Police Officer is stationed at the camp site, along with Acadian Ambulance and/or Plaquemine Fire Department during each camp session to insure the health and well-being of all campers. The camper's nominal fee includes meals and transportation as provided by the Iberville Parish School Board. Other meals are also provided, but not limited to, the American Legion, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Knights of Columbus, and Plaquemine Elks, our public officials such as the Iberville Parish Sheriff and Plaquemine Police Chief, and local merchants. Many of our meal sponsors form partnerships with other entities for the meal preparation and serving arrangements which broadens the awareness of our program.
Campers are offered an array of supervised, structured activities. Local school coaches host athletic training sessions; arts and crafts classes has something for boys and girls of all ages. Demonstrations by local resources are generally hands-on and interactive. Past activities include the 4-H teaching boys and girls how to sew on a button or crochet, 911 Emergency Preparedness simulating actual emergency situations with an Interactive 911 Voice Simulator, Boy Scouts instructing rope-tying techniques, cultural dances by Cajun folk dancers, table tennis exhibitions by former U.S. champions, culinary skills in the art of sausage making and homemade candy making, airbrush painting, introduction to the world of golf, fitness skills by the Heart and Soul Jump Rope Team, West Baton Rouge Parish Museum presentation of "Grandmother's Trunk", former New York Jets football player Dan Alexander speaking about drug prevention and much more.
Success of our program is defined as "they keep coming back for more." Campers and mentors always look forward to our next camp sessions. Our program's contribution to the community is measured by (1) the lack of other recreational activities unavailable in our area, and (2) the enthusiasm of parents, grandparents, local officials and our contributors who actively participate in our sessions continue to promote our efforts. Since the camps’ inception, not once has any agency, organization, business or individual said "NO" to any request made on behalf of our precious resource - our children. Evidence of our success is marked by the volunteering of agencies and entities that have begun to call in to offer donations and support for the upcoming camp sessions. Parents have begun to call in before making their summer vacation plans so their children can attend the camp sessions. Success of our program is also promoted through our local newspapers.
The lasting benefit of the program is youth involvement. At the end of the daily camp session, our youths are exhausted with excitement and young teens have experienced leadership skills with the younger boys and girls. Other entities are now trying to mimic our efforts so that all of our youths can be served in Iberville Parish.
The City was conferred as first place winner of the Louisiana Municipal Association Community Achievement Award in August, 1997. Louisiana Attorney General's Criminal Justice Award Program was begun in 1998. COPAC Camp garnered its recognition and was cited during the presentation by Attorney General Richard Ieyoub as the "most innovative" youth program in the state.
Written by Kristine Hebert – Special Projects Director/Main Street Manager
Sandra Devillier - COPAC Day Youth Coordinator
Plaquemine City Hall – Third Floor
23640 Railroad Ave.
Plaquemine, LA 70764-2754
Hours: 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday
225-687-3116
Fax: 225-685-1194
E-mail: sdevillier@plaquemine.org
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 675
Plaquemine, LA 70765-0675
Click on choice to download PDF:
COPAC Day Youth Camper Application
COPAC Facility Use Agreement
COPAC Facility Rental Fees
COPAC Youth Day Camp Worker's Application
