Alexandria Police Youth Camp

** Voted best non-profit in Alexandria for 2013, 2014 & 2015 by Alexandria Times Readers **

The Alexandria Police Youth Camp (APYC) is owned and operated by the officers of the City’s Police Department. Since 1946, the camp has given more than 20,000 children the opportunity to attend a summer program in a rural setting. The children, ages 9-15, are provided a rustic camping experience under the supervision and guidance of the officers of the Alexandria Police Department and YMCA staff.  Campers are given the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of activities including swimming, arts & crafts, archery, water skiing, tubing, off shore fishing, hiking, wind surfing, and kayaking.  There is also an emphasis on outdoor leadership skills, character development and socialization skills.The APYC is a 501(c)3 that is run by a board of directors, all of whom are APD officers.

We’ve recently joined forces with the Peninsula YMCA, providing APYC with additional highly experienced staff members.  This allows us to provide our Alexandria campers with a more enriching camp experience.The operation of the camp by officers of the Alexandria Police Department has given the campers advantages not readily available to most children. They include:

• Interaction between the police officers and campers dispels negative misconceptions of law enforcement officials. The police officers’ participation creates positive experiences with the campers, reinforcing the concept that police officers are someone for children to trust.
  
  
• City and private social agencies have used camp to place disadvantaged children in a setting with a program designed for play, relaxation, education and personal growth. In 2013, we had five children coming from the Alexandria homeless shelter and we are excited to provide these disadvantaged children a summer that they’ll never forget.
  
  
• We provide valuable interactions between officers and Alexandria youth within a traditional camping environment.  This interaction helps promote empowered youth, provides positive role models to teach appropriate boundaries and expectations, and  teaches peaceful resolution and non-violent conflict resolutions skills.
  
  
• We believe that a safe and well supervised camp can be a positive, growth-filled opportunity for every child. Camp can be an important experience in the development of a child, providing an environment with leaders who instill the values of the following six pillars of character: Faith, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring, and Citizenship. In addition, our camping programs provide children a place to learn the value of group membership, leadership development, self-esteem, and self-confidence.
  
  

The board of directors maintains contact with Alexandria City principals, social workers and guidance counselors throughout the year. It is evident to everyone involved that the APYC is providing positive changes in the lives of our campers.