The First Summer Youth Camp took place in July of 2004 and was headed up by Detective Sergeant Robert Wells. When Detective Sergeant Wells retired in June of 2008 the Summer Camp Leadership was taken over by Lieutenant Michael J. Colwell. Lt. Colwell headed up the Summer Camp in July of 2008 and he is currently planning events for the two week program scheduled for July of 2009.

The Point Pleasant Boro Police Summer Youth Camp will be in its 6th year this July and the program is going as strong as ever. The Summer Camp encompasses many different facets of a Police Officer’s job including Detective work, K-9 Police work, SWAT, Bicycle Police Officer and much more. The Summer Camp also allows the participants to explore different avenues in Police work including, Local/Municipal Police, State Trooper/(NJ) State Police, Police Academy Instructor/Ocean County Police Academy, and Marine Police Officer/Trooper/(NJ) State Police Marine Division. The Camp also encompasses discipline as part of its curriculum emulating what life at a Police Academy is like for a recruit. There is an emphasis on health that includes some physical training and lessons about good health and good nutrition.

Part of the Summer Camp allows the participants to see and interact with our Community’s First-Responders including days with the Point Pleasant Boro Fire Department and the Point Pleasant Boro First-Aid Squad. During Fire Company Day the participants learn how our Fire Department Underwater Recovery Team operates and conducts rescues. This is done in a hands on fashion with the participants actually in the pool with the members of the Underwater Recovery Unit. After the pool session participants will get to visit Point Pleasant Boro Fire Company #1, where members of both of our Fire Companies will assemble to give lessons about fire safety, hands on demonstrations, and a rarely seen look from the top of a 110 foot ladder/bucket Fire Truck.

During First-Aid Day the participants will get to witness a Medical Transport Helicopter land before their eyes on the High School Football Field. They will then get to spend time with the Crew/Paramedics, get a lesson from the Crew/Paramedics about their jobs and experiences, and actually climb on board and tour the Helicopter. As the Helicopter Crew departs the participants will then visit the Point Pleasant Boro First-Aid Squad where they will be able to interact with our valuable EMT First-Responders. The participants will receive lessons on basic First-Aid, watch as some of our EMTs demonstrate the Jaws of Life as they actually cut a vehicle into pieces as they simulate an actual rescue, and eventually climb on board and tour our Boro’s First-Aid Rigs. On First-Aid Day Officials from the (NJ) Department of Highway and Traffic Safety and the (NJ) Brain Injury Association will be on hand to give the participants interactive lessons on bicycle helmet safety and the safe riding of bicycles in situations that also involve vehicle traffic.

One of the highlights of the Summer Camp will be the Project Adventure Ropes Course at the Point Pleasant Boro High School. This is a day where the participants will be able to develop greater self-confidence and at the same time acquire a sense of trust and commitment to their fellow participants. The emphasis of this course is on participation and the participants are encouraged to work together with others in their group by setting a goal and achieving it together. There will also be individual challenges for each participant to be a part of. Benefits of this program include the following.

* Increased sense of personal confidence
* Increase mutual support within a group
*Demonstrate responsible personal and social behavior
*Demonstrate an understanding of movement concepts and the use of motor skills
* Demonstrate the ability to use decision-making skills of appropriate goal
Setting , risk taking, and problem solving
* To develop an increased confidence in one’s physical self and in being
With others

The participants have traditionally taken an exceptional liking to our day at the Project Adventure Ropes Course. There will be certified instructors on hand to supervise all activities on the Ropes Course and to insure that all of the proper safety measures are taken.


The Summer Camp also incorporates some fun activities that are age appropriate. The participants will visit Jenkinson’s Aquarium in Point Pleasant Beach (NJ) and get a behind the scenes tour of the facility by one of the experienced employees there. They will then get some time to have fun with an afternoon on Jenkinson’s Beach - (Weather Permitting). The participants will also visit Great Adventure’s Hurricane Harbor for a day of fun on the waterslides there - (Weather Permitting).

* THESE FUN FIELD TRIPS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE BASED ON WEATHER, AVAILABILITY OF SUMMER CAMP FUNDS, STAFFING, AVAILABILITY OF TRANSPORTATION, OR TO ALLOW ROOM IN OUR PROGRAM FOR OTHER TRIPS AND OR SPECIAL VISITORS/PRESENTATIONS *


New for 2009 will be a trip to our local Hospital - Ocean Medical Center at Brick - (Brick Hospital). The participants will get to explore the medical field by getting tours at the Hospital and valuable lessons on various health care topics given by experienced professionals. Some of the lessons will include, Damage done to the human body and its organs by Smoking, Excessive Drinking, and Drug Abuse. A block of instruction will be given on healthy eating and nutrition for a healthy life. Finally a block of instruction will be given on the dangers associated with self tattooing and self piercing of the body. On this day the participants will also be taking part in a HOSPITAL WIDE DRILL that will simulate a large scale incident with mass casualties. The participants will be given instructions about their respective roles in this drill prior to start of the exercise. This will give the participants an inside view of what goes on during such an event as they will see and be able to participate in every aspect of it. They will learn what resources have to be deployed and what their individual and collective goals are. Afterwards there will be a round table and discussion of the drill so that any questions that come up can be answered. We are looking forward to this new addition to our Police Youth Summer Camp and we believe that the participants will leave it with the absolute confidence that they and their families will be given the best care possible in the event of such a large scale event in our area.


During our two week program we hope to instill discipline, educate our participants, build character, foster respect toward others, and have a little fun. There will always be at least three adult Camp Instructors on hand to supervise all activities. Our Instructor Staff will be supplemented by some of our young residents of town who have become Law Enforcement Special Officers in our surrounding towns and by some of our local Fire Fighters and First-Aid Squad members. All of the adults who will be working with the camp participants had to have complete background checks in order to qualify for their respective jobs in Law Enforcement or their volunteer positions on the Point Pleasant Boro Fire Department and Point Pleasant Boro First-Aid Squad. We will also have some of our Point Pleasant Boro Police Explorers on hand to help the Instructors on most or all of the days of the two week camp.


The Camp Staff Consists of:

Head Instructor: Lt. Michael J. Colwell - Oversees Camp Operations

Senior Instructor: P.O. Christopher Woit - Activities Coordinator/Trips/
PT/ High School Liason

Senior Instructor: P.O. Charles Ackerman - On Base Activities/Discipline/
PT/ Memorial School Liason

Senior Instructor: Cpl. Gary Colberg - On Base Supplies/Commodities/
First-Aid Medical Liason


Senior Instructor: Communications Operator Jacqueline Iannizzotto -
Nutrition/Itinerary/Participant Lists & Liability forms/
Camp attire

Summer Youth Camp Instructors:

Detective Michelle Hill
P.O. Brad McNally - Ropes Program
Communications Officer/Special Officer Jesse Waterson
Communications Officer/Special Officer Jeffrey Johnson
Communications Officer - Travis Popiel - Technical Support
Special Officer - Mitch Remig
Special Officer - Nicholas Costagliola
Special Officer - Andrew Welsh
Special Officer - Dawn Coppola

*NOTE - THE AFOREMENTIONED ACTIVITIES AND TRIPS ARE THE HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR POLICE SUMMER YOUTH CAMP. THERE WILL BE MANY OTHER EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES AND EXPERIENCES THAT ARE NOT LISTED. THE POINT PLEASANT BORO POLICE SUMMER YOUTH CAMP APPRECIATES THE TIME AND DEDICATION THAT ALL OF THE GUEST SPEAKERS AND INSTRUCTORS GIVE*

Chief Williams and the entire Point Pleasant Boro Police Youth Summer Camp Staff are very proud to provide this two week program AT NO COST TO THE PARTICIPANT OR HIS/HER FAMILY. We hope that together we can provide each participant with a wealth of information and a lifetime of good experiences and memories. We hope that it becomes the program that helps to build a solid foundation for each participant’s future, where they make new friendships, and where some of them may become inspired in the future to step up to the fore front and become leaders in our community. We look forward to seeing our newest Police Youth Summer Camp Participants in July!


****** The Point Pleasant Boro Police Summer Youth Camp is open to boys and girls who reside in Point Pleasant Boro and are between the ages of 11 & 13. Our home base is the Memorial Middle School on Laura Herbert Drive. The participants report to the Memorial Middle School between 7:45a.m. & 7:55a.m. each morning for start up at 8:00a.m. Dismissal from the Memorial Middle School will be at 3:30p.m. daily, (unless otherwise noted in the Camp Itinerary). Any other applicants will be considered on a case by case basis. ******