BCSO Youth Academy aims to get kids thinking about their future

BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) – When school lets out, summer camp season officially begins. At the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, their Youth Academy is a hybrid — taking those traditional summer camp feels and combining them with experiences that students don’t get in other places.

“We have 25 kids here this week, they’re with us Monday through Friday,” said Lt. Larry Grainger of the Bay County Sheriff’s Office.

Students age 10 to 16 are learning unconventionally at the Youth Academy.

“We’re giving tours of the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, everything we have going on here. Our crime scene, our criminal investigations, our BAYROC. We even include our auto shop and paint and body shop to see what we do,” Grainger said.

“You learn about the different types of jobs. Swat team, bomb squad, investigation. You learn about everything, and it’s a special experience,” said 14-year-old camper Caleb Johnson.

The campers are also touring the local Navy Base.

“I’ve always wanted to tour it because I drive past it almost every single weekend. It just seems really fun,” Caleb said.

Also included: visits to Gulf Coast State College and Haney Technical College.

The goal is to get kids thinking about what they might want to do for a living.

“Obviously we want to attract them to do this job, but if not, that’s OK too. We’re just trying to jog their minds and get them going to think about the future. Whether it’s law enforcement, joining the workforce, or going to college,” said Grainger.

Summer fun is on the schedule, too, including a deep-sea fishing expedition.

“I caught about 15 or 20 fish, but one of my friends actually caught the biggest fish,” said Caleb.

This year’s Youth Academy is fully booked. To sign up for 2026, make sure to keep a lookout when those dates are announced.

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