Star Camp And The Kids Who Lead It

A free summer camp for hundreds of fifth graders sounds like a feel good story, but the real surprise is how practical it is. We sit down with Sergeant Kandy Carland from the Henderson County Sheriff’s Department to unpack the STAR program, short for Sheriff’s Teaching Abuse Resistance, and how it prepares 10 and 11 year old's for the realities they’ll face in middle school. The focus stays on what actually works: education that’s age appropriate, relationships that build trust, and consistent support inside schools.

We dig into what students learn in STAR, from being a good citizen to bullying prevention, responsible use of electronic devices, and clear guidance around vaping, alcohol, and drugs. Sergeant Carland explains why Henderson County’s school resource officer program matters so much and how daily presence changes the way kids see law enforcement. Instead of showing up only when something goes wrong, deputies and SROs become familiar, trusted adults who can help early.

Then we get into Star Camp, a no cost, three day day camp offered across six summer sessions for about 550 students. From outdoor time in Pisgah National Forest to community service projects, the camp is designed to build confidence, friendships, and pride in school. We also share how the program is funded through community partners and sponsors, plus the Star Camp 5K fundraiser at Rugby Middle School, including ways to sign up and support.

If you care about youth safety, substance abuse prevention, and building a stronger Henderson County, this conversation is for you. Subscribe for weekly community stories, share this with a parent or educator, and leave a review telling us what programs helped you most growing up.

Transcript

Show Intro And Anniversary Note

SPEAKER_01 0:00

The George Real Estate Group Radio broadcast is celebrating 10 years on WHKP. The George Real Estate Group is celebrating 10 years on the radio live every Thursday morning at 1005 on WHKP 107.7 FM and AM 1450, and streaming online at WHKP.com. Each Friday morning at 8.45, the George Real Estate Group presents the Hometown Hero Award to someone in our community who goes above and beyond to make our hometown a better place to live. Here's this week's Hometown Hero Show. It's 8 45 on Friday morning, and that's always time for the George Real Estate Group Hometown Heroes Series, and we welcome our friend Noah George every Friday morning. How are you doing, Noah?

SPEAKER_00 1:00

I'm good. So much to be thankful for. And uh the highlight of my week every Friday morning uh when we are here sponsoring the Hometown Heroes Series.

SPEAKER_01 1:07

It's a job, but somebody's gotta do it. Uh right.

SPEAKER_00 1:12

What a tough job.

SPEAKER_01 1:12

What a tough job we've got. Meeting the best people in our community.

SPEAKER_00 1:18

I mean, truly, I mean, and and you and I have been doing this for a number of years and getting to to share stories and shine a light on some amazing things being done in our community and men and men and women volunteering and then also those serving our community and and uh this Friday's no exception.

Local Real Estate Market Snapshot

SPEAKER_01 1:33

Absolutely. Uh we're gonna talk about the star camp coming up in just a couple of minutes, but first uh a little uh recap and uh analysis of the market in real estate.

SPEAKER_00 1:44

The market is the market. I I like the people are always it's funny when people say, Well, what do you do? And I'm like, Well, I I help uh I I work in the real estate industry, and there it's always like, Oh, I'm so sorry. I'm like, well, no, the the market is the market, the interest rates are the interest rates, but you know, it's really it's it's really about serving and advocating and helping our clients navigate through, you know, life happens, therefore real estate happens, and uh the you know the prices are gonna be what they're gonna be, interest rates are gonna be what they're gonna be. I mean, it's all relative, right? But it's you know, everybody's unique situation, unique home. And I mean, we we do interpret and decipher and just and we're use discernment through what the market is. I mean, for right, for example, right now, Henderson County's had a hundred more homes sell in the past 12 months than the previous 12 months. Uh interest rates a hundred more, which is significant. Yeah, days on market's a little bit longer. I mean, we're we're we're over a hundred days average on the market now. You remember it used to be a couple weeks.

SPEAKER_01 2:43

Yeah, right.

SPEAKER_00 2:44

Um, inventory levels are low. So it means supply and demand, the market's still very healthy. The average home price in Henderson County is at 544 is the average single family home price. So you know, again, the market's the market, the but your unique home, your unique situation, you know, we we are c having consultations every single day with our clients, helping them understand what their options are, giving them uh clarity about you know the choices they might have to make, and and we're it's an honor and privilege to help our clients through real estate.

SPEAKER_01 3:15

Well, there's a bunch of you all out there at George Real Estate Group, and I know y'all get your heads together on every situation and say, here's the best route for that person, this thing. That's that's right.

SPEAKER_00 3:26

We do work as a team, so we're grateful. We have over 20 agents at the George Real Estate Group. We're located in Flat Rock. It's a dangerous location next to the bakery and the barbecue, and you know, follow your nose. Stop by sometime, but again, grateful to to be here every Friday morning sponsoring the Hometown Hero Series. And by the way, we podcast uh all of our radio shows. You can find that on your favorite podcast platform.

Meet Sergeant Candy Carlin

SPEAKER_01 3:46

We sure do, and a lot of you like to do that, and we're glad you do. So just hit that uh like button and uh it'll be coming in to you every week. And and at the end of the year we do a wrap-up and a top ten download show, and it's always fun to do that. Welcome, if you will, with me, Noah, to uh Sergeant Candy Carlin with the Henderson County Sheriff's Department. Good morning, Sergeant.

SPEAKER_02 4:10

Good morning. Thank you all for having me.

SPEAKER_01 4:11

Thank you for coming. We sure do uh appreciate you joining us. Actually, uh Noah, you are more familiar with uh the Star Camp than I am, and this is one of the ones that you've recommended, and and so I'll let you guys talk about Star Camp.

SPEAKER_00 4:26

Well, I wanted to uh uh so grateful to have you here, and we want to share with our listeners about the Star program, and then we can talk about the Star Camp. But you know, Star Camp's coming up, but the STAR program is an incredible program, and and first off, let's back off let's back up though. You grew up here in Henderson County, is that right?

SPEAKER_02 4:43

Yes, sir, I did.

SPEAKER_00 4:44

Did you did you ever when did you decide to get into law enforcement?

SPEAKER_02 4:48

Uh well I got into it in 2012. It was kind of just by accident, but here I am 14 years later.

SPEAKER_00 4:54

So And you've been involved in the STAR program your entire career?

STAR Lessons For Fifth Graders

SPEAKER_02 4:58

Uh yeah, yes, sir, for the last few years. But I was in DARE when I was in school here, so I've known about it for a long time.

SPEAKER_01 5:06

And is this uh DARE what used to be called DARE?

SPEAKER_02 5:10

Yes, sir, it is, yeah. And STAR stands for Sheriff's Teaching Abuse Resistance.

SPEAKER_00 5:16

Aaron Ross Powell And again, they they I think and it's this iteration of I mean, DARE was a big deal back in the eighties and nineties when it first came out, and then but again, this is the next level because I think it takes it to a different it's it's about the relationships and and let's talk about what that program looks like in Henderson County for our it's in our for our fifth graders.

SPEAKER_02 5:34

Aaron Powell Yes, sir, that's correct. So what we do is we teach eight different lessons and we actually partner up with our school nurses for two of those. So they do the health aspects of, you know, the risk of alcohol, vaping, stuff like that. But we talk about everything from what it means to be a good citizen to making good decisions. Um we talk about bullying, we talk about using electronic devices responsibly, and then of course we talk on the drugs, the marijuana and stuff like that.

SPEAKER_00 6:06

I mean this is again this is built on what our kids are facing these days.

SPEAKER_02 6:11

Yes, sir. And what our job is is just to educate them so they can make informed decisions for themselves. You know, we can't force anybody or change anybody's ways, but if we can educate them at a young age, hopefully that'll stick with them and they can make good decisions moving forward.

SPEAKER_01 6:28

What age uh children are you working with?

SPEAKER_02 6:31

Um so it's fifth grade, so they're 10 or 11 years old.

SPEAKER_01 6:34

Okay, so you just really hone in on the fifth grade, huh?

SPEAKER_02 6:38

Yes, sir. It's very age appropriate and it's a proved curriculum through the Henderson County.

SPEAKER_01 6:43

So Well the fifth grade is uh it's a pivotal grade for for kids. I I remember that from many years ago when my daughter was in the fifth grade. Yes. It is uh it's a big change.

SPEAKER_00 6:57

And going right into middle sch I mean it's it's right before they go go into middle school. Right.

SPEAKER_02 7:02

Yes, so they're they're very curious, so we want to make sure that we're sending them to middle school with some knowledge and just how to make safe choices.

School Resource Officers And Trust

SPEAKER_00 7:11

And and to be prepared and I we were talking before we got on the air. My kids went to Mountain Community, and that's where we got to know uh Ridge Ridge uh Ridgeway and Officer Ridgeway. But I mean, let's talk about the school resource officer program. I mean, like I I have to I mean, when it first I mean, Henderson County, I don't know, you guys were sort of leading the way with this program in the state, but every school in Henderson County has a school resource officer.

SPEAKER_02 7:39

Yes, sir, that's correct. And we have some of the best school resource officers. Uh they go in, they build those relationships, the kids start to trust them, they see them more in a positive light. Um, and it's it's so beneficial for everybody involved.

SPEAKER_00 7:53

It's significant.

SPEAKER_02 7:54

It is.

SPEAKER_00 7:54

And but from a I mean, for so many reasons, and uh and you gotta give our Henderson County leadership credit for committing to that. Amen.

SPEAKER_02 8:03

Absolutely. Yeah, I can't imagine us not being involved in the schools. I think that's just kind of the expectation now that we're there and we're available.

SPEAKER_01 8:11

Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Oh, we've had the privilege of having several school resource officers in this in that chair. Yes, sir. And uh every one of them is committed uh beyond belief how uh well okay, let's uh can can we talk about the camp now? Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 8:29

Yeah.

Star Camp Details And 5K Fundraiser

SPEAKER_00 8:30

Because the camp is a privilege for these students.

SPEAKER_02 8:32

Yeah, so so once they've completed the program, um we invite roughly five hundred and fifty fifth graders to come to camp during the summer. Uh we do six different sessions, and they're three days apiece. It's just a day camp, and it's at no cost to the student. But that's because of our community partners and sponsorships, we're able to do that.

SPEAKER_00 8:52

And you have a big event coming up.

SPEAKER_02 8:55

Uh we do. We actually one of our fundraisers is a Star Camp 5K race, and that's going to be next Saturday, April 25th, and that's at Rugby Middle School. So we would love to have people come out support or even joining the runs.

SPEAKER_00 9:09

Is there still time to sign up and run?

SPEAKER_02 9:12

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_01 9:13

How do we do that on a website?

SPEAKER_02 9:15

Um They can call the sheriff's office and we can get them an application. It's also on active.com, they can register, or they can just show up the day of and we'll have applications ready for them to go.

SPEAKER_01 9:26

Where do you all do the camp?

SPEAKER_02 9:28

Um so we go to various locations. Okay. So it's anywhere from we're at the sheriff's office, we're at Jackson Park eating lunch, uh, we go to Fireside off Brookside Camp, they get to go to the batting cages, um, we go up to Pisigan National Forest, they get to play in the river.

SPEAKER_01 9:44

Oh right. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 9:45

We go to the Elks Lodge for a pool party and a cookout. And we also do what's really important is a community service project every Wednesday morning. And that way the kids have an opportunity to give back to their community, give back to their schools, get it looking good. So when they start school, they just have pride in it.

SPEAKER_00 10:03

How how many weeks is the camp?

SPEAKER_02 10:05

Um it's a one six sessions.

SPEAKER_00 10:08

Six different weeks.

SPEAKER_02 10:09

But it's uh Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, so it's a three-day camp each week.

SPEAKER_00 10:12

Wow. Are the kids going every day for all six sessions, or it's a different group of kids?

SPEAKER_02 10:16

It's a different group of kids, so their school is assigned to a certain week.

SPEAKER_00 10:20

Okay.

SPEAKER_02 10:21

But there is multiple schools and it's what they go into their feeder schools, so they're middle school. So it gives them an opportunity to meet kids that they may not know and they have new friends going into middle school.

SPEAKER_01 10:33

Another genius idea. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 10:35

Is the STAR program unique to Henderson County, or is this a program across the United I mean the country or even North Carolina?

SPEAKER_02 10:42

Um, I think DARE is more across the country. STAR was more localized here for what we see in Henderson County, but there are other agencies that are taking our program and running with it. So definitely setting the foundation for it.

SPEAKER_01 10:56

You mentioned sponsors. Um we'd love to plug any of those sponsors that we can here on the show for and thank them for contributing.

SPEAKER_02 11:06

Yeah. So we are so fortunate this year we have so many sponsors, and I know I'm not going to name them all, but uh the Elks Lodge, the Henderson County Schools, um, Golden Corral, Papa John's, we have a l a lot of local construction businesses, um, plumbing businesses, heating businesses, real estate offices, um, and just individuals who just feel led to to donate.

SPEAKER_00 11:30

And it's year-round, by the way. I mean, the the opportunity to give and to give back, and I mean you're looking for I mean, it it's a it truly is an investment in back into our community. Absolutely. Into our kids. Do you have a maybe a moment or a specific story in your time serving with a kid or with a you know, in in being in this program that stands out to you? Um, maybe that you you might be willing to share?

SPEAKER_02 11:54

Um well, I think what makes it worth it for me is, you know, when you're participating in these activities, whether you're up in the forest or you're at the pool party, just hearing the kids laugh and giggle and having such a good time. And by the time they're leaving Wednesday night, some of these kids are crying because they don't want to leave. And uh another thing I'd like to add, so our counselors play a huge role in this as well. And so that's our high schoolers or our eighth grade going into ninth grade. Um without them, we couldn't do this program. You know, the kids think they're cool. The deputies were not so cool, we're just there. Uh, but the counselors, they're a huge part as well.

SPEAKER_00 12:33

Isn't that amazing? And it's probably kids that had came up through the program and now they're giving back as leaders in the program.

SPEAKER_02 12:40

Yeah, absolutely. So it just kind of different stages how you can keep involved.

SPEAKER_01 12:45

When is the camp coming up this year?

SPEAKER_02 12:48

Um so session one will be the week of June 8th. That'll be our first camp.

unknown 12:53

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 12:54

And um and and it it costs nothing. It costs nothing for the kids to go to.

SPEAKER_02 12:59

No, sir. Thank you to our community partners.

SPEAKER_01 13:01

That's amazing.

How To Volunteer Give Or Connect

SPEAKER_00 13:03

It it really is. Now your role is you work with all the school resource officers, is that right?

SPEAKER_02 13:08

Yes, sir. So I'm the sergeant, so I'm kind of over operations day to day, just make sure, you know, if we don't have somebody I try to plug in, or if they need equipment or supplies, make sure they have what they need.

SPEAKER_01 13:19

Yeah, how can uh there's a website I'm sure we can learn more about what you guys do.

SPEAKER_02 13:25

Yeah, if you go on the Henderson County Sheriff's Office webpage, I think there is actually a link for like the school resource officer division.

SPEAKER_00 13:32

And and information about the STAR, I think you can also find information about giving back. I think there's some there's some information out there. Of course, they can anybody can call the sheriff's office and can can request information.

SPEAKER_01 13:44

Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, I'm sure you guys would uh love to make contact with anyone who's interested in volunteering or being a part of the star camp. It's a great program of the uh Henderson County Sheriff's Department and the school resource officers. And and uh Sergeant, we are really glad you came to visit with us today and tell us more about the Star Camp. We have a certificate here that uh you can hang in the lobby, and uh it's just a little mo momentum of our appreciation.

SPEAKER_00 14:15

I and I think just again the bigger picture on this, it's it's about relationships and it's about the community and and what you guys are doing on so many levels. It's the day-to-day that you're there, right? But then this program that you're offering year-round, you know, for the kids, and then and and then the Star Camp during the summer.

SPEAKER_02 14:33

Yeah, absolutely. We try to invest in the kids and we're there for them at all different grade levels.

SPEAKER_00 14:39

It's amazing.

George Real Estate Group Closing Message

SPEAKER_01 14:40

Thank you, Sergeant, so much for being with us today. Noah, we got about a minute left to uh remind everyone of uh the George Real Estate Group.

SPEAKER_00 14:48

Yeah, it it we again it it it even with us, it's relationships, it's helping, it's advocating, it's facilitating knowledge. Uh it is, and and and and I tell people it just happens to be houses that we're helping people with, but it's you know, people are walking through life at all different stages. It could be the the new new family that's buying their very first home. It could be our our clients that have you know have owned new numerous homes and now they're downsizing or even moving into a retirement community. Uh there, you know, so again, life happens, real estate happens. And so it's really a privilege to help our clients navigate through that.

SPEAKER_01 15:21

Get us in touch with the George Real Estate Group on many, many platforms.

SPEAKER_00 15:26

Absolutely. Follow us on social media, Facebook and Instagram. We also podcast all the radio shows. Uh you can also uh you know find us online at realistatebygreg.com or stop by our office anytime in Flat Rock.

SPEAKER_01 15:37

Thank you for joining us for the George Real Estate Group Hometown Hero Series. We'll be back next Friday morning with another Hometown Hero. The George Real Estate Group is located in Flat Rock, North Carolina, near Hendersonville in Henderson County. You can find them online at realestatebygreg.com. The George Real Estate Group can be reached at 828-3930134 or stop by their office at 2720 Greenville Highway, Flat Rock, North Carolina. Tune in live each week on Thursdays at 1005 AM on WHKP 107.7 FM and 1450 A.M. or stream online at WHKP.com or download these podcasts wherever you get your podcasts. The George Real Estate Group brings you the WHKP Hometown Hero Series every Friday morning at 8.45.

SPEAKER_00 16:34

Maybe the house feels a little too big these days. The stairs a little steeper. The pace of life a little too fast. But what if your next move wasn't about letting go? It was about making space. For peace, for freedom, for what matters most. At the George Real Estate Group, we understand that real estate isn't just about the house. It's about transitions, timing, and trust. We've helped thousands of families in Western North Carolina make smart, thoughtful moves. Closer to nature, closer to family, closer to home. So when you're ready to rise size, simplify, or start fresh, we'll be here. The George Real Estate Group. Local, trusted, proven. Call us today, 828-3930134. Find us online at real estatebygreg.com because your next chapter deserves to feel just right.