Sarina Arms pushes Valentina Arms during a relay at Skate Zone Tuesday. CHRISSY OHLINGER / Special to the PVT Michael Boulder and Kyler Bayer get a glimpse inside Mercy Air 21 Thursday during the week's G.R.E.A.T. games. PHOTO: MERCY AIR 21 Advertisement

The Nye County Sheriff Office's G.R.E.AT. program was in full swing in Pahrump this week.

About 65 youngsters had a good, safe time and learned a lot, too, while participating in activities like skating, rock climbing and demonstrations by the Nye County Fire Rescue Service and the sheriff's K-9 unit.

Some activities were designed to team build among the kids while promoting healthy role models at the same time. Peer mentorship is encouraged.

Eight-year-old Syamini Breathwaite likes G.R.E.A.T. -- which stands for Gang Resistance Education And Training -- "because we have teams and we play a lot of fun games ... and we make projects and we decorate their shirts."

The G.R.E.A.T. program is designed to "provide positive alternative activities for young people so they can avoid the dangers or risks of crime, gangs, drug abuse and violence," according to Don Boulden, school resource officer for the sheriff's office.

During the weeklong program, kids learn about society and cultural diversity issues. They talk about accepting differences among different groups of people rather than converting to gang-like behavior to combat those differences.

One topic discussed is the creation of laws. Students talk about why we have laws and what values from our society influence our lawmakers. Students enjoy learning about and discussing the laws that affect them every day.

Another topic is friendship, with students explaining how to pick their friends and how to know who is a good friend.

The summer camp mirrors the 13-week classroom program mandatory for seventh-grade students in Nye County. During the class they complete a workbook in order to receive a certificate.

The summer program is only a week long so that coordinators can travel to many surrounding communities like Duckwater, Gabbs, Tonopah, Beatty and Round Mountain to offer all kids the same opportunity.

The program is always free so it is accessible to everyone.

Pahrump does not recognize a serious gang problem, but it does see gang-like behavior, and the program hopes to teach young people how to avoid that behavior.

Doug Farinholt, school resource officer from the sheriff's department, said, "It's working out great. I'd like to work together with another program. Nye County doesn't have enough programs."