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URBANA, Ill. – The University of Illinois Police Department will host its first Youth Leadership Camp June 17-21 for eighth grade students entering high school in the fall.

The camp is designed to give students leadership and life skills, communication skills and motivation to succeed as they enter high school. The camp is intended also to build bridges between the campus community and the surrounding area.

The one-week day camp includes a mix of activities led by experts from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Participants will attend various workshops, demonstrations and tours as they are chaperoned by University of Illinois Police officers and staff. Representatives of the university’s athletic programs will be on hand to coach and motivate the young people. Breakfast and lunch will be provided each day. 

“The University of Illinois Police Department is here to keep all of our community members safe, healthy and equipped with the tools they need to succeed,” said U. of I. Executive Director of Public Safety and Chief of Police Craig Stone. “The Youth Leadership Camp is an opportunity for students entering high school to learn critical skills, like building a resume and teamwork.”

The week-long camp is free of charge to Champaign-Urbana residents, and participants will be accepted on a merit basis. Applications are being accepted now and may be submitted online at https://police.illinois.edu/youth (this link is no longer active as the camp registration has closed). A mail-in application is also available for download on the UIPD website, or applicants can complete a paper form at the police department.

“Our goal is to inspire our young people to be community leaders and to build bridges between the university community and the surrounding area,” Stone said.

This year’s is the inaugural camp, but the department plans to offer the camp every summer.