About
Our youth programs, coordinated by our School Resource Officers and Youth Engagement Section, help to instill values in members of the youth community to help them grow and develop.
Programs range from summer camps and mentorship opportunities to programs developed to teach young adults advanced driver safety skills.
The 2026 camp registrations is open! Apply before March 31.
Youth Programs
BearTrax is an overnight camp and mentorship program for 5th graders entering middle school in the Fall. It is designed to enhance relationships between police officers and youth and provides role models that help a child develop socially and emotionally. Officers help kids learn to understand and communicate their feelings, to relate to their peers, and to develop positive relationships with other adults. Through the BearTrax Camp, officers attempt to instill a healthy sense of importance and self-confidence in participants. They will be taught communication skills, conflict management and a sense of respect for others. The Camp will reinforce important social lessons, where entertaining activities will be used to focus on topics such as physical fitness, bullying, anger management, personal safety, peer pressure, team building, character building and community service.
2026 Camps: Session 1 - Aug. 2 - 4; Session 2 - Aug. 5 - 7.
Deadline to apply is March 31.
The Collision Avoidance Training (C.A.T.) program is an advanced defensive driving and vehicle control program for licensed teenage drivers ages 16-20 years old. The one-day program (8.5 hours) is designed to provide young drivers with the knowledge and understanding of vehicle dynamics.
The first section of the program is devoted to two (2) hours of classroom instruction. This session gives students a better understanding of why the vehicle responds the way it does and prepares the students for the behind-the-wheel exercise on the driving course.
The second section consists of six (6.5) hours of behind-the-wheel training. This course provides practical exercises that demonstrate how the vehicle responds in a given situation and how to regain control of the vehicle. The driving skills addressed in the program are: evasive maneuvers, threshold/emergency braking, forward serpentine, cornering, backing, reverse serpentine, and skid and off-road recovery.
During the behind-the-wheel training, students operate their own vehicles. Prior to the start of the training, each vehicle is inspected by an instructor to ensure that the vehicle is in good operational condition. Then each student, accompanied by an instructor (Howard County Police Officer), begins practicing the different driving skills/maneuvers. Each student must successfully complete each driving skill/maneuver in order to receive a certificate of completion. If the student does not satisfactorily complete the course, they are given the option of coming to another session for no additional cost.
The cost of the program is $95 and registration must be done in advance. Please do not send payment until registration is confirmed.
Questions? Contact the CAT Program at 410-313-2207 or at CATProgram@howardcountymd.gov.
2026 Sessions: March 28, April 25, May 9, June 27, July 18, Aug. 15, Sept. 19, Oct. 24, Nov. 14, Dec. 12
The Community Athletic Program, or CAP, consists of a traveling trailer filled with sports gear, games and video game equipment and staffed by school resource officers. The concept is for police to engage with at-risk youth in areas where young people congregate during the summer months. The CAP is deployed to neighborhoods where youth gather – usually unsupervised – and offers productive activities with an aim to deter crime and gang involvement. As an added benefit, the program fosters positive relationships between youth and police. Activities include basketball, baseball, flag football, floor hockey, tennis, board games, and video games.
Explorer Post 1952 offers young people an opportunity to learn about law enforcement and serve the community. Exploring is a worksite-based program and is designed to help youth gain insight into a career in law enforcement. Howard County Police Explorer Post 1952 offers experiential learning with fun, hands-on activities that promote growth and development. Explorers develop leadership and teamwork skills, preparing them to enter college or the workforce, while serving the community and enhancing public safety.
Minimum qualifications:
- 13 to 17 years old
- Maintain at least a C average
- Upstanding citizen
- No criminal background
- Parental permission
- Recommendations
Duties:
- Direct traffic and control parking at various county events
- Assist with Youth Police Academy
- Participate in crime prevention activities
Benefits:
- Learn police procedures, tactics and skills
- Gain insight into a future career in law enforcement
- Earn community service hours for high school and college
- Ride along with police officers on patrol
- Compete against other Explorers in regional and national events
For questions, contact PFC Lilly at 410-313-2610, or plilly@howardcountymd.gov.
The P.L.E.D.G.E. (Pride, Leadership, Education, Diversity, Growth and Evaluation) leadership camp is a week-long day camp experience that teaches leadership, communication, teamwork, and decision-making abilities for rising 9th graders. The program is specifically designed to assist rising 9th graders to adjust to high school. Through a series of discussions and practical activities, participants learn the value of teamwork and develop leadership skills. Lessons and activities challenge their ability to make critical decisions, focus on core beliefs and values, recognize diversity and accept these differences as they work together towards a common goal. The P.L.E.D.G.E. mission continues into high school, as the 9th grade students and their School Resource Officer (SRO) maintain their relationship. The SRO mentors the incoming freshman with P.L.E.D.G.E. student meetings to discuss high school social issues affecting their transition progress. P.L.E.D.G.E. students are invited to attend a variety of monthly day trips around the region with the SROs and other P.L.E.D.G.E. students from each high school in the county.
2026 Camps: Session 1 - July 6 - 10; Session 2 - July 20 - 24
Deadline to apply is March 31.
Attention all youth groups, scouts and student organizations! Want to see behind the scenes at HCPD?
The Howard County Police Department provides tours of the police station, 911 center, and county emergency operations center for organized youth groups on Wednesday evenings. Due popular demand, groups must register in advance. Learn about fingerprinting and forensics, and how law enforcement operates in Howard County.
Group size of 15 or smaller preferred. Larger groups may be split to provide the best experience for all. Special considerations upon request.
Station tours for boy scouts and girl scouts are conducted the first Wednesday of the month during the school year.
Questions? Contact HCPD's Community Outreach Division at 410-313-2207 and ask for Youth Services.
Teen Court offers the opportunity to first-time juvenile offenders who live in Howard County to accept responsibility for their misdemeanor crimes without having to incur a criminal record. Teen volunteers serve as jury members for a full school calendar year and will hear cases like theft, disorderly conduct, destruction of property, alcohol possession, and other non-violent offenses. Dispositions for the offenders may include community service, educational programs, essays and apology letters. The program has proven successful in reducing rates of repeat offenders in other jurisdictions.
If you live in Howard County and are a high school student (grades 9-12 and under the age of 18) and are interested in becoming a jury member, contact Katie Turner, Teen Court Coordinator, at kturner@howardcountymd.gov.
The Youth Police Academy is a free, one-week overnight academy for kids ages 13 to 17 years old. This adventure-filled camp is designed to help young people explore career and leadership opportunities, life skills and character education. Participants spend the week participating in law enforcement classroom instruction, drill and ceremony, physical training, and team-building. Participants will be able to put their training to the test with scenario exercises in patrol techniques, domestic situations, crime-scene processing and traffic stops. All meals and snacks are provided daily.
For questions, contact PFC Antonio Vitale at 410-313-2617 or avitale@howardcountymd.gov
2026 Camp: June 21 - 26
Registration for the 2026 camp is full.