NNPD Youth Leadership Camp

Youth Leadership Camp

Since 2007, the Youth Leadership Camp (YLC) has given teenagers, enrolled in a Newport News Public School, the opportunity to interact with Newport News police officers. One objective of YLC is to help teens learn teamwork, communication and leadership skills, as well as build on trust, respect, self-esteem and responsibility – character traits that could help give teens a better chance at achieving their personal, academic and professional goals. Also, YLC exposes teens to positive experiences with police officers that could help teens better understand their roles in their communities and the importance of public service.
Youth Leadership Camp is open to boys and girls ages 13 to 17 and held each summer at the U.S. Coast Guard Training Center in Yorktown. Officers engage teens by discussing youth-related topics and demonstrating real-time policing tactics, hands-on training and activities, which teach the importance of leadership, character and life skills. Demonstrations, training and activities may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Active Fire Containment
Land & Marine Navigation
Calisthenics & Obstacle Course
Communication & Interpersonal Skills
Physical Training
Search & Recovery
Swim & Water Rescue
Leadership & Teamwork Building
U.S. Coast Guard Physical Assessment Test
The Youth Engagement Summer Program is administered by the Newport News Police Department and fully-supported by donations made to the Newport News Police Foundation – no tax dollars are ever used. Since 2007, more than 500 teens have participated in YLC – some have become police officers and others have joined the military or have been recruited by large local corporations. Support for programs such as this allows the Newport News Police Department to establish strong relationships and reflect a positive image throughout the city of Newport News.