Miami lawyer works to keep inner-city kids out of trouble and off drugs.

Most days Ben Daniel is a hard-nosed federal prosecutor working to put bad guys away.

But for eight days this summer, Daniel was camp director for a bunch of 9- to 12-year-old kids from Liberty City, with the goal of keeping them from getting in trouble. Daniel's leading Camp DEFY (Drug Education For Youth) began as an assignment from his boss, Thomas E. Scott, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida.

"And it was the most important thing I did all year," Daniel said. "I've been a prosecutor for 20 years, and most of my energy is directed toward putting people in jail. It seemed to me, at the end of the day, if we could affect the life of just one of these children, we would have salvaged another human life."

But it takes more than a camp director to create a successful camp. Daniel is quick to point out that he had lots of help in making the second year of Camp DEFY a success, including volunteer time from paralegals, secretaries and attorneys in his office.

The camp was a collaborative project of the U.S. Attorney's Office; Miami Weed and Seed, a federal crime prevention program; the U.S. Coast Guard; the Miami Police Department; and the Miami Parks & Recreation Department.

Coast Guard Commander Karen Taylor met with the kids who were delighted to take a boat ride on Biscayne Bay and climb aboard ship, complete with demonstrations by a drug-sniffing dog.

Former Pittsburgh Steeler David Little, now with Parks & Recreation, taught football techniques to the kids.

Kim Sands, former University of...