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Fire, police youth academy ready to exhaust middle schoolers
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When Pamela DeMeo and Bill Gonsalves developed the Naples Police and Fire Department’s youth academy last summer, their goals were modest.
DeMeo, a fire prevention specialist, and Gonsalves, a police officer, wanted to introduce middle school-aged children to the city’s police and fire departments, and maybe expose them to future careers in emergency services.
More than 40 children attended the two week-long academies last summer. In October, to DeMeo’s and Gonsalves’ surprise, the academies were named the Florida Crime Prevention Association’s Outstanding Crime Prevention Program of the Year.
With the school year again coming to a close, DeMeo and Gonsalves are putting the finishing touches on this summer’s two academies, which will run June 16-20, and August 4-8.
With the success of last year’s academies, there was no doubt that DeMeo and Gonsalves were going to pick up where they left off.
"Just watching the kids last summer, and opening their eyes to future professions, the fun that they had was a lot of fun for us," Gonsalves said.
This summer’s academies will run from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and will be based at the Naples Fire Training Center, 1550 10th St. N. There are only 20 spots per week, which are open on a first come, first serve basis to Collier County children, age 11 to 14.
The cost to attend is $50 per child, per week.
Children who attend the academies will go through training for CPR, water rescue, first aid, fire extinguishers, gun safety and computer safety, Gonsalves said. There will also be special operation team, crime scene and K-9 demonstrations.
Attendees spend much of their days outdoors, and can expect to go home at the end of the day exhausted.
"A lot of the things they are doing are things that many people don’t have an opportunity to do their entire life," DeMeo said.
Proof that attendees can expect a good time can be seen in the more than 600 digital photos taken at last year’s academies, DeMeo said.
"In every single picture," she said, "the kids are smiling."
Academy applications are available on the city of Naples Web site, www.naplesgov.com. For more information contact Police Officer Bill Gonsalves at (239) 213-4868 or Fire Prevention Specialist Pamela DeMeo at (239) 213-4918.
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