Retired police officer uses ‘scales of justice’ to shape teens

    Retired Weiser City Police Officer Steve Fenske knows kids.
 A father himself, he knows you can’t be too firm, or too soft, which makes raising them a balancing act.
 The philosophy, combined with his 26-year military career, makes him a perfect fit as CEO of Arrow-Heart Adventure Camps, a program that helps shape 12- to 15-year-old teens into individuals of character.
 “My dad was a police officer for 27 years and he always said the best way to raise a kid is by the scales of justice,” said Fenske, who served as a resource officer at Weiser High School and directed the After School Program for the Weiser City Police Department. He earned the rank of Major before retiring from the Idaho National Guard.
 “I couldn’t understand what my dad meant by that, but I do now,” he said.
 Fenske is talking about balance. He said that on one hand, if you give kids too much love, they tend to take advantage and, in some cases, may even walk all over their parents.
 Too much discipline, he said, and you run the risk of them pushing you away.
 “It’s a matter of balancing the love and discipline as best you can, so they understand that you still love them, but they are required to follow rules, and if you can’t follow the rules, it’s going to be tough,” Fenske explained.
 Arrow-Heart was founded in 2007 by brother-sister team Todd and Arianne Zucker. Todd is a former vice-principal at Weiser High School and Arianne is best known for her character Nicole Walker on the NBC daytime soap Days of Our Lives.
 Their mission was to give teens a chance to “live to their fullest potential.”
 Fenske took over as CEO in 2016 after Todd took a job as principal at Vallivue High School. He previously served as a program director.
 Arrow-Heart, a non-profit, teaches what Fenske calls the six “C’s.” They are building blocks that promise to help kids grow, giving them the tools necessary to face what can sometimes be a difficult life.
 They are Character, Communication, Critical thinking, Commitment, Courage, and Compassion.
 Arrow-Heart is a 10-month program featuring one four-day camp and one overnight camping trip. The remainder of the year consists of special weekend activities and community service.
 Fenske recently took his kids to Zip McCall Adventures, this year’s four-day trip, which was intended to help build confidence and courage.
 “It was a lot of fun,” he said of the zip lines. “It’s a scary thing for a lot of people, but it builds courage.”
 His group also participated in kayak races and hiked into Boulder Lake.
 Some of the teens in his program have had difficult lives, but participating means towing the line and, consequently, most of them seem to look at him as something of a father figure, or a good friend.
 “I got into this group because I wanted something to do and I really enjoyed Mr. Fenske, and I emotionally got better after I joined,” said EllyAnna Huggins, 15. “I was struggling with anxiety and depression. Being here with people and not being alone helps, and it kinda feels like family.”
 One of Fenske’s former participants is Juan Martinez, a Weiser High School graduate who went through the program and still keeps in contact with his mentor.
 “I got in trouble a few times, but nothing crazy,” said Martinez, who now works at Les Schwab. “I had some friends who knew about it and we got together with Fenske and I liked the whole mindset of it. We started helping people and did all these cool projects, and it was really cool.”
 Martinez, 25, got married a year ago and is expecting his first baby. While in the program, he did work at the Weiser Community Pond, laid sod for a woman at her home, went on a paintball trip and took part in Thanksgiving get-togethers, among other activities.
 “When you are younger, they want you to help other people and you’re like, ‘Ah, I don’t know about that,’ but it was actually really fun. It’s cool to make someone’s day. It makes you feel good about yourself,” he said. “Fenske is a great, great friend and mentor, just a great guy.”
 Money for the program comes through donations and fundraisers. There is no cost to participants.
 Fenske said he couldn’t run the program without his coaches: Boys’ Head Coach Drew Wilson, Girls’ Head Coach Brenda Lee, and Assistant Coaches Jenn Huff and Tammie Boven.
 Sponsors include Ole’s Mens Social Club, Stan and Amy Uhl, and Brenda Lee.
 “These sponsors made it possible for our new campers to enjoy the camp out,” he said. “Thank you for the support!”
 For more information, call (208) 550-1755, or visit sffenske@gmail.com. To sponsor a teen, visit www.arrow-heart.com. To make a donation, visit www.paypal.com. To learn more about fundraising, contact Linda Fenske at (208) 549-2397.