Camp teaches railroad safety to teens

West Virginia Operation Lifesaver hosted a five-day camp for kids who were interested in learning more about railroads and how they work. John Perry, state coordinator for West Virginia Operation Lifesaver, said the camp is a good way to teach children about railroads and dispel some common myths about railroad functions. “We take [the kids] out to the railroad and actually let them drive a locomotive,” Perry said. The state-owned South Branch Valley Railroad donates a locomotive to the yearly camp. “This is a favorite activity at the camp, and lets the kids see for themselves that a locomotive going even 10 mph can’t stop on a dime,” he said. Perry said the intense, yet fun, environment promotes greater learning of railroad safety. Campers take two safety tests before and after camp. “This year, on the pre-test, our median score was 61%,” he said. “The post-test was 92%. We feel like we were able to teach the kids some things that helped them.” Along with on-site learning, campers play trivia games, watch videos and attend morning classes to learn about rail safety and the intricacies of railroading. Kids enjoy regular camp activities but spend three days of the camp actually learning on the railroad. Perry adds that the kids also enjoy racing the antique handcar, which the Historical Society in Huntington, W.Va., donates to the camp for the week. “We race them against a stopwatch and radar gun to see their top speed,” he said. “This year’s top speed was around 15.7 mph.” Twenty children between the ages of 12 and 17 attended this year’s camp. The camp is free for the children, who are selected by recommendations made to Operation Lifesaver board members or workers in the rail and safety industry. Perry said donations from corporate sponsors have ensured the camp remains free but, as interest increases, securing funds becomes tougher. Operation Lifesaver is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting safety at railroad crossings and awareness of their potential dangers. “As the camp grows we need more and more money to keep it operating, and this year we seem to have generated a lot of publicity,” he said. Perry said that he is receiving inquiries from such states as Maine and Oregon since not every state offers the summer camp. According to Perry, West Virginia Operation Lifesaver may have to raise the number of campers each year to around 40, and conduct two camps each summer. “The way our timeline had it planned was by 2005 to break it up into two camps, but we may have to do it in 2004,” he said. To learn more about the camp or become involved, please visit the West Virginia Operation Lifesaver Website at www.wvol.org.