Wilmington youth can train like first responders in free summer academy

The Youth Public Safety Academy’s two-week summer program is designed to introduce local youth to careers in public safety. (Photo by Albert Stoynov)

WILMINGTON-  The Wilmington Police Department and Wilmington Fire Department have officially opened applications for the 2025 Youth Public Safety Academy, a free two-week summer program designed to introduce local youth to careers in public safety.

Scheduled to run from Monday, June 16 through Friday, June 27, the academy will be held on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Participants, ages 13 to 17, will receive both breakfast and lunch each day at no cost.

“This annual program offers young people in Wilmington a great opportunity to meet some of our first responders, and to see if a career in public safety might be for them,” said Mayor John Carney.

“I encourage our young residents to apply to be part of this free program.”

Backed by JPMorgan Chase, this year’s Youth Public Safety Academy continues a growing tradition of collaboration between Wilmington’s police and fire departments.

“Our team at JPMorgan Chase is proud to continue our support of both the WPD and the WFD,” said Jeff Pilla, Wilmington Site Manager for JPMorgan Chase.

“The Youth Public Safety Academy offers young people in our community with a hands-on opportunity to engage with first responders and learn about the important work they do, and we hope this experience might inspire some to pursue a career in public service.

The program features a mix of hands-on activities, team-building exercises, role-playing scenarios, field trips, and presentations. The curriculum covers a wide range of topics, including conflict resolution, fire safety, crime scene investigation, K9 operations, arson investigations, and internet safety. Physical agility training and first aid instruction are also part of the schedule.

“We are excited to again offer this wonderful program for youth in our community, and to give them the chance to spend two weeks getting to know and learn from our first responders,” said Police Chief Wilfredo Campos.

“This free, two-week academy offers young people opportunities to learn, engage and explore career possibilities in public safety and public service.”

Fire Chief John Looney highlighted how valuable this experience could be for the teens involved.

“The academy is a wonderful way to provide young people to learn about careers in public safety, and provides teens with positive interactions with police officers and firefighters as role models and mentors, ”said Chief Looney.

Applications for the 2025 Youth Public Safety Academy are now open and must be submitted by 5 p.m. on May 16. Space is limited. Interested youth can apply online at WilmingtonDE.gov/YouthAcademy.

Claudia Estrada

Claudia is a Philadelphia-based journalist and reporter passionate about storytelling that informs and engages the community. Claudia, a proud Temple University graduate, has built a career covering impactful stories and creating compelling content across digital and print media platforms. With a strong background in writing, editing, and research, Claudia has worked on various topics, from local news to in-depth features, always striving to deliver meaningful and accurate reporting.