In 1996, the Florence County Sheriff's Office started Camp Pee Dee Pride to provide a positive recreational outlet for children during the summer and it's still going strong today.
Camp organizers Eddie Huggins and Wayne Howard have been with the camp since the beginning.
"It really means a lot to us. We put it together 16 years ago, and since then we probably had 4,000 kids to go through the program. All the time up at the mall and different places, people are coming up to me who are 25 and 26 years old now saying, 'Hey, I remember your camp!' And they'll tell me straight up that's the most fun they've had at summer camp. We make it fun. It's nothing like school. Pies in the face and everything," said Howard.
Monday morning, 73 new campers spent the day at Francis Marion University for the first day of this year's camp. There are three two-week sessions ending in July.
Many campers come back every year because they learn a lot and have a great time.
"I came back because it's a lot of fun and the counselors are really nice to you and it helps my parents out so they can work longer in the day without having to come home and keep us," said Duncan Summersett, one of this year's campers.
The camp's counselors are high school and college students. They interact with the children and teach them how to fish and swim.
The kids also learn first-aid from different medical facilities in Florence, and fire and law enforcement personnel give the campers pep talks.
This year, the camp is embarking upon a new adventure.
"Each year, we add something new. Tomorrow, we got something we never had before and that's a guy who raises eagles and falcons for hunting and he's gonna come tomorrow with the birds and do a demonstration for us," explained Howard.
Over the years, several major organizations have donated to the camp including NASCAR racing legend Cale Yarborough.
Camp organizers say they're thankful for each and every donation and it helps them provide a fun-filled summer for hundreds of children.
