The Amherst and The University of Massachusetts (UMASS) Police Departments will host an annual Youth Adventure Academy each July.
This years' Academy will be Monday, July 21st - Friday, July 25th, 2025.
Students entering 6th, 7th, or 8th grades are eligible to attend. There is no cost to attend the academy. However, as the academy is limited to 20 participants, preference will be given to Amherst residents and UMASS affiliated families (ex. parent/guardian are employees or students at UMASS).
Similar to a Citizen Police Academy, The Youth Adventure Academy allows participants to learn about police work through classroom sessions, role play scenarios, and interactive demonstrations in the areas of law, crime scene investigations, defensive tactics, and patrol procedures, to name a few. The Academy also features afternoons at the popular Amherst Adventure Based Ropes Course, at the Norwottuck Range, where we will promote teamwork, communication and offer opportunities to develop positive relationships with the police officers.
The Amherst and UMASS Police Youth Adventure Academy will provide those participating with lunch each day at the award-winning UMASS Dining Commons.
All students will need to have transportation to the UMASS Police Department each morning, for an 8:30AM start, and picked up each afternoon from the UMASS Police Department, promptly at 4:00PM.
Questions regarding the academy can be forwarded to:
Amherst Police Detective Yvonne Feliciano: at 413-259-3311 or @email
UMASS Police Officer Brian Kellogg: at 413-545-9461 or @email
The application deadline is July 1st, 2025.
To Apply for the Youth Adventure Academy, click on the below link and complete the application in its entirety: Click Here for the Application
*** If you need the form translated to another language: right click on the form, click on the translate button, and then choose the language you need from the pop up.
*** Your child must write a paragraph on why they wish to attend. This is to be submitted along with your application. All applicable youth are encouraged to apply though preference will go to those who have never attended and those who meet the criteria listed above. You will be contacted with a confirmation, as well as provided with additional infor
with additional information.
