Trooper Island celebrating 50 years of camping

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky State Police are celebrating the 50th anniversary this year of Trooper Island, a free summer camp operated by the agency to serve underprivileged children.

The camp is located on Dale Hollow Lake in Clinton County and hosts around 700 campers each summer on the 34-acre island. The agency estimates more than 25,000 boys and girls ages 10 to 12 have attended the one-week sessions since 1965.

State police say the camp features modern housing, dining, recreation and dock facilities and offers a full curriculum of activities.

The camp at first lacked basics, and members of the Radcliff Optimist Club secured a loan of tents, cots and other equipment from the Army.

State police are holding their major fundraiser for the camp with a raffle of a 2015 GMC pickup truck. Tickets are $10 and available at any post or online at http://trooperisland.org .

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