Collier County deputies, Naples kids build trust at Sheriff's Kids Day

NAPLES, Fla. (WINK)— Two days of sports, hands-on learning, and mentorship are giving local children the chance to dream a little bigger.

Kensington Golf & Country Club partnered with the Collier County Sheriff's Office and Youth Haven to host its annual Sheriff's Kids Day. The event was born 10 years ago from a simple idea: bring kids and deputies together in a positive environment.

"In 2015, when Michael Brown was killed by police in Ferguson, Missouri, my husband, Jan, decided that we should do something to put kids and police together in a way that they could engage with each other and learn to trust each other," said Sue Guben, a resident at Kensington Golf & Country Club.

A decade later, dozens of children from Youth Haven are spending the day learning new skills on the court and getting to know the deputies beside them. The event creates opportunities for positive interactions between law enforcement and youth.

"It's important because that's how you start to build relationships, that's how you start to build trust, and so they get to see us just as, you know, a regular person, not just somebody in uniform," said Cpl. John Nunley of the Collier County Sheriff's Office.

It's also a chance to step out of everyday routine. The experience offers more than just a day of activities.

"I feel like these kinds of experiences build so much, not just with the community by bridging gaps and giving them the experience of doing something that they've never done, but just within themselves emotionally, psychologically, and helping their foundation stronger than it was before," said Ariana Macias, a youth care advocate at Youth Haven.

As the program continues, kids will get a look at careers through the club, from the kitchen and fitness center to golf course maintenance. Organizers hope that one experience might spark a dream for the future.