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Youth academy campers learn fire fighting, police techniques in week-long course
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Police Youth Academy camp on Marco
The Police Youth Academy camp on Marco Island included fingerprint dusting and report filing, extinguishing a contained fire, physical exercises to build stamina, a canine demonstration, lessons in self-defense and helping to tear a vehicle apart in a jaws-of-life simulation.
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By Friday’s end, 12 local youngsters no older than 13 years of age, will be able to administer CPR in an emergency, be able to dust for fingerprints at a crime scene, and extinguish small fires with ease.
The 12 have spent the past week at the annual Police Youth Academy camp on Marco Island, being instructed alternately by police and fire personnel on various aspects of their jobs.
“The idea is to do everything mostly hands-on,” said officer Jen Lofy of the Marco Island Police Department. “It keeps them interested.”
The week’s agenda included the fingerprint dusting and report filing, extinguishing a contained fire, physical exercises to build stamina, a canine demonstration, lessons in self-defense and helping to tear a vehicle apart in a jaws-of-life simulation.
The participants were divided into teams for the week, Lofy said, providing a touch of competitiveness but at the same time instilling in the youngsters the need for teamwork so vital to fire fighting and law enforcement.
Gabrielle Sampson said one of the early highlights for her was analyzing a crime scene, and exposing a fingerprint on a beer bottle.
“I liked the running and exercises as well,” she said. “It was exhausting, but fun.”
Savannah Garner said she was enjoying herself, particularly because her dad is a firefighter.
“There’s nothing that’s boring here,” she said. “This is a nicer type of camp.”
Lofy said besides perhaps steering some of the youngsters towards these careers in the future, the camp also helps build a relationship with police and firefighters.
The week-long camp cost participants just $30 in total, and is available each year on a first-come, first-served basis, Lofy said. Hours are 9 a.m. through 2 p.m.
This year’s group is scheduled to graduate at Monday’s (June 16) City Council meeting.
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