Saturday morning, Xavier Newman and Jeffrey Belaire worked out on exercise machines inside Kansas University’s Anschutz Sports Pavilion.

The 10- and 11-year-old Lawrence area boys were supervised by members of KU’s women’s swimming team. Little did they know that also watching was Douglas County Undersheriff Ken McGovern.

“I’m just having a lot of fun,” Xavier said.

The boys were among 65 youths in area Big Brothers and Big Sisters programs who participated in the day-long Hawks, Cops and Kids sports camp at Anschutz and Allen Fieldhouse.

In addition to physical activities, the youths also attended short seminars about Internet safety, drug abuse, health and nutrition and other topics. Working with them were KU athletes and coaches, along with area law enforcement officers.

“The benefit is getting the kids used to being around athletes and law enforcement officers and breaking down some barriers,” McGovern said.

During the morning activities, the youths weren’t told about police officers being involved in the event. They were told later at lunch during speeches by Kansas Atty. Gen. Phill Kline and KU men’s basketball coach Bill Self, whose players also participated in the event.

Saturday’s camp was organized by Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters and Kansas Cops for Kids. Program director Randy Wells said he hoped it would eventually result in pairing officers and athletes with youths for mentoring purposes. The program was started in 1996 in Wichita after a 14-year-old runaway boy shot and killed Kevin Easter, a Sedgwick County sheriff’s deputy. It is being expanded to more areas of the state.

“If they have the time to spend with these kids, that kid will benefit greatly from their friendship,” said Wells, a retired Wichita police officer.

Alex Houston, 8, tugs at a rowing machine under the supervision of Kansas University rower Tricia Sawtelle, sophomore from Olathe, in Anschutz Sports Pavilion. The rowing exercise was one of 10 work stations in which Lawrence-area youths worked with KU athletes on Saturday for the Hawks, Cops and Kids sports and Internet safety training camp.

Officer Matt Sarna of the Lawrence Police Department agreed. “A lot of times these kids, all they ever see of us is in bad situations. I think they are going to be surprised to see we can be like normal people and play with them.”

Ralph Oliver, KU Public Safety director, said he hoped the day’s experience would result in officers volunteering to act as mentors. The day gave officers a chance to see if mentoring was something they wanted to be involved in, he said.

KU athletes also were enjoying the day. Many of them are already involved in mentoring activities, such as taking local youths to volleyball games or just talking, said swim team members Jackie Krueger and Tricia Tindall.

“I think this is a great way for the kids to get some motivation and inspiration from college athletes,’ Krueger said.

Thomas Thompson, 11, practices his dribbling skills in front of Kansas University freshman basketball player Alex Galindo.