Sheriff's deputies, narcotics agents and forest and park rangers got together today for a "youth fun fair" at the Visalia Adventure Park.

By collecting stickers from displays set up in the parking lot by the Tulare County Sheriff's Department, Sequoia National Park, Sequoia National Forest and the state Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement, kids could earn a discount for the video games, bumper boats, racing karts and other attractions inside the park.

But the agencies offered a serious message to go along with all of the fun.

Alexandra Picavet, a ranger at Sequoia National Park, had a display showing kids and their parents the damage illegal marijuana gardens cause inside the park and on other public lands. Photos showed piles of trash, bags of chemical fertilizers and acres of torn-up landscape from the clandestine operations that desecrate the natural environment.

Sgt. Chris Douglass, a spokeswoman for the sheriff's department, and other deputies showed off equipment they use in their work and let children try on some of the body armor deputies wear to protect themselves dealing with problem inmates in the county jail.

Colin Sutherland, 10, of Tulare was jazzed as he started putting on the heavy gear -- a stab-resistant vest, gloves and gauntlets, knee pads, a helmet with face mask and a hand-held Plexiglas shield -- but within minutes the extra 30 or so pounds was taking its toll on the boy.

"I wanted to see how it feels," he said, "but it's hot and it's heavy."

Colin's mom, Claire Sutherland, said they were at the park for their church's vacation Bible school and didn't know about the fair ahead of time. "But we saw the Blackhawk helicopter and we couldn't just drive away."

Oh, yeah, the Army's Blackhawk helicopter -- used by narcotics agents to get to remote marijuana gardens and other scenes -- was the big hit of the morning as kids climbed in for a look around. When it took off shortly after noon, it caused a sensation -- and showered straw and dust -- among the bystanders.