Amherst, UMass Police running free adventure camp for kids

AMHERST, Mass. (WWLP) - Imagine a summer camp that does more than keep kids busy, but can rather help them build on a future career.

That is what Umass and Amherst Police are doing.

This week, they are hosting their fourth annual Youth Adventure Academy. A group of 30 sixth, seventh and eighth graders will go through a one-week camp and learn about crime scene investigation, combat tactics and patrol procedures.

12-year-old Cameron Cyr of Belchertown says it is not your typical summer camp.

“It's a lot different, because in regular summer camps you'll do some activities in the woods and this you learn how to fight and grow through like training to be a police officer,” Cyr said.

Amherst Police Officer Bill Laramee told 22News that the camp teaches kids how to work in teams and communicate. He added that they have also seen an increase in the number of girls attending the program. In fact, more than half of their participants this year were girls.

To learn more about this camp, visit the Amherst police website at amherstpd.org.