July 2008 Along Those Lines
Co-ops put the ‘amp’ into camp
The only time Indiana’s Touchstone Energy cooperatives like to see water and electricity come together is during the four-day, three-night energizing event they host known as Touchstone Energy Camp.
Held annually at Camp Tecumseh near Brookston, the camp lets upcoming seventh graders have a great time with traditional summer camp activities like swimming and boating while giving them a better understanding of electrical safety and electric utilities.
The sixth annual camp, held June 4-7, included 119 campers from all over Indiana.
Other activities included: horseback riding, marksmanship, wall climbing, zip line and crafts. And it also included a live power line safety demonstration, bucket truck rides, an education on electric co-ops and much more.
Brett Davis exits a tube slide and lands in the cool water at the Camp Tecumseh lake. Brett was one of 119 seventh graders at this year’s Touchstone Energy camp sponsored by Indiana’s electric cooperatives.
Dietrich Hess rings the bell atop Camp Tecumseh’s Lookout Tower climbing wall to let everyone know of his accomplishment. 
As their paddle boat leaves the dock, rear passengers Katina Kemp, left, and Codi Stout are the first to realize they’re sinking. The girls bailed out before the boat was swamped. Fortunately, they were still in knee-deep water. After losing the aft ballast, the three other girls paddled on.
During one of the short break times at camp, Shae Lear, center, and other campers gather for a game of carpetball.
Cooked squirrel is a Touchstone Energy camp specialty — courtesy of Kyle Finley’s Live Line Demo. The artificial animal draws an arc from the energized equipment to show campers what happens to animals — and people — that make contact with power lines and poletop transformers. Finley, a former electric lineman from Illinois, also cooked hot dogs with his 7,200-volt display.
Finley shows the group what happens when metallic
balloons, which conduct electricity, blow into power lines and other
electrical equipment. He also warned them that the balloons can be electrical hazards to them.
Photos by Richard G. Biever
Written By: eceditor
Date Posted: 6/19/2008
Number of Views: 310
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