Over 240 youth taking part in Camp UNITE at University of the Cumberlands

Hundreds of youth are signed up to attend the 13^th Annual Camp UNITE this week in Williamsburg, which got a visit from a White House official Tuesday.

Youngsters will be taking part in various activities like this at Camp UNITE this week.

More than 240 youth from 29 counties in southern and eastern Kentucky are registered for the camp, which started Tuesday afternoon and is being held at the University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg.

Camp UNITE is a residential drug awareness leadership and adventure program for young people, who completed sixth, seventh or eighth grades last school year.

One of the guests, who visited Camp UNITE Tuesday was Anne Hazlett, a senior adviser for rural affairs in the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.

Hazlett took the job in February, and her role is to help shape policy aimed at improving the quality of life in rural America, and coordinate interagency efforts on drug control activity impacting rural communities, and build coalitions and grassroots strategies in these areas centered on prevention, treatment and recovery.

The theme for Camp UNITE 2019 is “UNITE Strong: Stronger Together.”

The theme reflects that each person has their own unique strengths and abilities. This theme reflects that working together can help identify and develop not only your strengths, but those of your peers. By combining these strengths we become more successful and have a source of support when facing life’s challenges.

Throughout the week, this message is conveyed through fun, interactive activities that expose participants to new options and opportunities. In addition, time is set aside for introspective discussions and special presentations about the consequences of poor decision-making and ways to avoid making the wrong choices.

The camp is no small undertaking with nearly 150 volunteers assisting UNITE staff in providing programming during the four-day, three-night camp.

Camp will conclude Friday with inspirational speaker Nick Wilson, who won “Survivor: David vs. Goliath.” Wilson is currently an assistant commonwealth’s attorney in Whitley County, and he will discuss the impact of substance abuse on both his personal and professional life.

For more information about Camp UNITE or other Operation UNITE initiatives, please visit their website at www.operationunite.org.