AMHERST, Mass. – Traversing landscapes ranging from the UMass Amherst campus to the woods of the Norwottuck Range, children entering sixth, seventh, and eighth grade have the chance to form friendships and build relationships with local police officers through the Youth Adventure Academy (YAA).
The academy, offered every summer through the UMass Police Department (UMPD) and Amherst Police, aims to enhance responsible citizenship, provide positive interaction with police officers, and educate young people about the challenges and responsibilities of police work. According to UMPD’s Lieutenant Thomas O'Donnell, the academy, now in its 13th year, has a variety of engaging activities for everyone. Twenty students, who are from Amherst or have an affiliation to UMass, participated in the one-week academy, which was held last week.
“Over the last 13 years, we have evolved and we’re turning out a great experience for the kids,” he says. “We challenge all participants to get outside of their comfort zone and try new things.”
With a focus on team building, the YAA’s itinerary starts with demonstrations on police officer work and the tools they use. Specialties such as the dive team, air wing, accident reconstruction, and K-9 units are explained in an interactive environment. Coupled with learning about police work, students are introduced to an expansive ropes course nestled within the Norwottuck woods. “Elements from the low ropes course are first introduced to bring students together as a team, and then high-rope challenges are introduced,” O’Donnell explains.
O’Donnell notes YAA has brought joy to both students and officers alike, and has even inspired former students to become officers themselves and join the academy as instructors. “This year, YAA has Amherst Officer Jack Sarnacki, who was a participant in the Youth Adventure Academy many years ago,” he recalls. “When I think of outcomes, I can’t think of a better one than having a YAA participant become an officer and then be part of passing on what he learned to a new group of students.”
The memories made at YAA aren’t just through climbing ropes and petting the K-9 officers, O’Donnell asserts. Every day at the academy is the chance for participants to do what they do best — be kids.
“I may be older, but it still makes you feel like you’re a kid again seeing helicopters and SCUBA divers,” he says. “Some of my favorite moments have been at lunch — it’s the highlight of the week for most of the participants. Watching kids try different types of foods and seeing who can make the tallest ice cream at the end of camp are things many of us will remember.”
When Youth Adventure Academy ends, O’Donnell hopes the students take the lessons they learned with them. “Our goal is to inform participants of the many facets of police work, making sure they understand that arresting people is not the only thing police officers do, and is actually one of the things we do the least,” he notes. “Talking with the public, helping people in crisis, and being part of our community are things we do much more.”