BOURNE – Sheriff James Cummings has set a June 30 deadline to sign up for the 2016 summer youth academy. The program is a collaborative effort bringing together specially trained staff from correctional, educational, police and treatment organizations. Together, they provide a supportive environment for Barnstable County youth between the ages of 12 and 16, one that fosters improved social skills, increased resiliency and, most of all, better decision-making.
“The academy is geared to a critical age group,” notes Sheriff Cummings, “It’s centered around those core formative years when–consciously or not–individuals are spending time and engaging in behaviors that can make a huge difference down the line.”
The program is more relevant than ever, given the burgeoning opioid/heroin crisis that currently grips Cape Cod. Instruction on ways to avoid that distressing outcome, including the consequences of individual decision-making, will receive particular attention.
Past instructors have been drawn from a mix of law enforcement, public safety and military postings including the Barnstable County Sheriff’s Office, Barnstable police and firefighters, Yarmouth police, State Police, the U.S. Army and the U.S. Marine Corps.
The Academy will begin July 6 and be held three days a week. July 28 is the final day. Class will begin at 8:30 a.m. and end at 1 p.m. Applicants, parents and guardians will be invited to family orientation on Thursday, June 30, the last day to sign up.
Click here to download an application.
If you have questions, contact Shaun Cahill or John Gillen. They can be reached at [email protected] or 774-392-5640 and [email protected] or 508-209-1217.
Media release provided by the Barnstable County Sheriff’s Office
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