“The race car rides. The race car rides.”

That’s what was repeated as the best part of the day at Pocono Raceway’s Sunny Day Camp for special needs individuals and their families.

A Porsche racing club from Allentown provides the rides around the track. The event is sponsored by the Pennsylvania State Police Troop N Community Services Unit and Troop N Camp Cadet.

Organizer and Community Services Officer, Trooper Anthony Petroski, said that Pennsylvania has 16 troops identified by letter geographically across the state. A trooper from central Pennsylvania wanted to provide something similar to Camp Cadet for her disabled brother and began Sunny Day Camp in 2018.

“Pennsylvania State Police pride themselves on community outreach and reaching out to special needs individuals,” Petroski said. “They look to us as superheroes, and we want them to see us as friends and trust us.”

There were 135 registered participants with a total of about 500 people, including friends and families enjoying the beautiful day. Participants enjoyed a photo booth, getting into a helicopter, ATVs, firetrucks and learning about different branches of law enforcement.

Mary Peters, Blakeslee, said ‘The kids love it. They’re not afraid of the officers and like to meet the dogs.”

Morgan Taraska proudly shared with Heather Schreiner of the Special Olympics that she does the polar bear plunge in Carbon County.

Taraska was thrilled to learn that there is another plunge at Montage Mountain, then shared the athletic motto, “Let me win, but if not be brave in the attempt.”

Trooper Drew Wetzel from the HDES unit (hazardous devices and explosive section) had a robot that dismantles bombs, which everyone liked learning about. Meeting the K-9 dogs was a great experience.

There was also a large bounce house and other inflatable activities for everyone as a DJ spun tunes.