Columbus Police and Fire Youth Academy
123 Washington St., Columbus, IN 47201
About
The Columbus Police and Fire Youth Academy includes obstacle courses, physical fitness exercises, team building events, and a brief graduation ceremony that families are encouraged to attend. Campers learn about fire safety and fire prevention, inspect and learn more about various types of equipment from fire trucks to specialized police vehicles and boats, and see a police dog demonstration. Participants also talk with members of the CPD SWAT Team, Hostage Negotiators, Swift Water Rescue, the Bomb Team, Dispatch, and EMS.
• Ages: 6–12 years old
• Schedule: Bitty Boot Academy is a 2-day camp for local 6–8 year-olds, and Youth Academy is a 3-day camp for 9–12 year-olds, with each day running from 8:00am to 3:00pm.
• Price: The camps are free.
The 2026 Bitty Boot Camp will be June 8–9 and the Youth Academy will be June 10–12, and the 2026 Bitty Boot Camp and Youth Academy are now full. Online registration for the 2026 CPD/CFD Bitty Boot and Youth Academies will open on Monday, April 27, 2026, at 9:00am, and registration may close at any time once the academies are full. Camp space is limited, first time attendees are prioritized over past academy graduates, only one submission per child is allowed, registration alone does not guarantee the child’s spot in the academy, and the status of the child’s registration will be updated by email.
Lunch and an academy shirt are provided to all campers at no charge, with support from sponsors described as generous. The child must have their own transportation to and from camp, there must be a nearby emergency contact who can respond if needed, notifications of food allergies or restrictions will be made to camp staff and/or medications will be provided to camp staff at check-in if needed, and families must accept CPD’s liability waiver. The program is led by the Columbus Police Department under Chief Steve Norman, and a CPD Deputy Chief graduated from the FBI National Academy.
Last updated May 13, 2026.
• Ages: 6–12 years old
• Schedule: Bitty Boot Academy is a 2-day camp for local 6–8 year-olds, and Youth Academy is a 3-day camp for 9–12 year-olds, with each day running from 8:00am to 3:00pm.
• Price: The camps are free.
The 2026 Bitty Boot Camp will be June 8–9 and the Youth Academy will be June 10–12, and the 2026 Bitty Boot Camp and Youth Academy are now full. Online registration for the 2026 CPD/CFD Bitty Boot and Youth Academies will open on Monday, April 27, 2026, at 9:00am, and registration may close at any time once the academies are full. Camp space is limited, first time attendees are prioritized over past academy graduates, only one submission per child is allowed, registration alone does not guarantee the child’s spot in the academy, and the status of the child’s registration will be updated by email.
Lunch and an academy shirt are provided to all campers at no charge, with support from sponsors described as generous. The child must have their own transportation to and from camp, there must be a nearby emergency contact who can respond if needed, notifications of food allergies or restrictions will be made to camp staff and/or medications will be provided to camp staff at check-in if needed, and families must accept CPD’s liability waiver. The program is led by the Columbus Police Department under Chief Steve Norman, and a CPD Deputy Chief graduated from the FBI National Academy.
Last updated May 13, 2026.
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