HCSO Explorers volunteer nearly 150 hours at Chattahoochee Mountain Fair

CLARKESVILLE, Ga. – Nine young volunteers with the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office Explorer Post 510 spent much of the Chattahoochee Mountain Fair working behind the scenes, logging nearly 150 hours of community service over the fair’s nine-day run.

The Explorers volunteered a combined 147 hours at the fair near Clarkesville, helping with parking, answering visitors’ questions, and maintaining a visible presence throughout the fairgrounds.

“I am extremely proud of the work everyone put in,” said HCSO School Resource Officer David Perkins, who serves as an advisor for Explorer Post 510.

The program gives Habersham County students interested in law enforcement an opportunity to learn about the profession while developing leadership, teamwork, and community service skills.

Members are students in grades nine through 12 who are at least 14 years old.

Perkins works alongside HCSO Sgt. Wesley Addis and School Resource Officers Kristopher Stout and Graciela Margolla to oversee and train the Explorers.

The training goes beyond simply observing deputies at work.

Explorers participate in structured weekly instruction covering building clearing, basic self-defense, Georgia law, evidence collection, traffic direction and other aspects of law enforcement.

The Chattahoochee Mountain Fair gave the students an opportunity to put some of those lessons — particularly teamwork, communication and public interaction — to work in front of thousands of fairgoers.

“The Explorers did an amazing job throughout the fair,” Perkins said. “We received tons of compliments about their professionalism, work ethic, attitude, and willingness to help.”

Perkins also credited the Explorers’ parents for helping make the nine days of service possible. Parents assisted with transportation, scheduling, uniform maintenance and other logistics necessary to keep the students involved throughout the event.

For students interested in joining Explorer Post 510, applications are available at the Habersham Ninth Grade Academy and the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office in Clarkesville.