SHEPHERDSVILLE, Ky. — Over 650 students came out to Camp Crooked Creek to learn how to do things like shoot bows and arrows, BB-guns and cast fishing lines.

In the crowd of excited students, John Combs, helps youngsters take their shot at archery.

Combs has been a volunteer at Adventure Camp, a camp for kids with special needs, for around 12 years. 

“This is just a labor of love. Everybody that does it they want to come back. The kids love it,” Combs shared. 

Combs’s wife was a special education teacher. That’s one of the reasons he began volunteering here — to honor her work.

“Special needs kids typically don’t get field trips. So it’s important that we take care of them, nurture them, and we share this beautiful camp with them,” he explained. 

Second-grader Chay Vittitow is one of the campers making the most of his time at Adventure Camp.  

He’s been trying his hand at fishing. In his second catch of the day, Vittitow pulled in a fish — swimming in a turtle’s mouth. 

It’s experiences like these that make the camp special, and it’s Combs’s connection to the kids that has him coming back year after year. 

“Some of these kids have been coming for several years. And you know, I’ve kind of got to see them as they grow and seeing them progress,” Combs said.  

One of the ways Combs has been able to see the kids progress is by trying new activities. 

“They do things they didn’t think they could do. They get to experience things that scouts do. It’s just a wonderful, wonderful day. And like I said, if you do this once, you want to do it again,” he added.  

Combs says part of what makes the day wonderful is seeing the kids’ emotions. 

“You just see joy, accomplishment, you see the smiles, the laughter and you know just the camaraderie,” he said. 

Students can come to camp in the spring and the fall. The next one is April 15 through 19.

The camp also works with corporate partners who volunteer during the week.