Annual Youth Academy Set For June

Once again the Monmouth County Fire Academy will host the Third Annual Youth Academy. 

Cpl. Kevin Steinard, one of the local officers coordinating the camp said the third year figures to be just as exciting as they work on putting together a list of visitors for the campers. 

The camp will be held the last week of June and is open for high school aged students. Steinard said the day generally runs from around 8 a.m. to 4 p.m depending on the availability of the academy. A given day includes not only classroom instruction but demonstrations and physical activities.

Steinard said the classroom time is limited and aimed at teaching specific lessons. "We try to not keep them sitting in a classroom for three or four hours," he said. "A lot of it is hands on stuff."

Outside of the classrooms Steinard said representatives from the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office come and talk about their jobs as well as members of the New Jersey State Police who have been known to bring one of their official helicopters to the camp. 

The campers also learn more about what the local officers do on a daily basis including how to perform a proper vehicle stop as well as a fairly intense physical training program. 

There is no fee for the camp and all campers receive a t-shirt and a hat. Steinard said since the program was started those who attend are excited to be there. "There's a lot of them that like to do the challenge," he said of the weeklong program. "Believe it or not, there's some of them that actually like the whole discipline of it."

That discipline and stand at attention much like trainees do at the actual police academy. "I think some of them are curious about it," he said. "There are some that know already that they would like to be police officers or get into some kind of law enforcement someday."

They may come into the camp not knowing what they are doing when they walk together through the grounds, but Steinard said after the five days are over there is a definite improvement. "The first part of the week they look awful," he said with a laugh. "By the end of the week they look better."

Anyone interested in signing up is encouraged to call Steinard at 732-919-2816 or the at 732-919-2825.