On Monday there wasn’t a cellphone or a preoccupied young person to be seen as more than 55 cadets from across Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties are spending this week learning the ways of law enforcement at the Pennsylvania State Police Troop K Camp Cadet held at Valley Forge Military Academy in Wayne.
On Sunday, young people ranging in age from 11 to 14 arrived at Valley Forge to get a better understanding of law enforcement as they learn police training as well as self-discipline, making new friends and working as a team. The cellphones and electronics stayed home.
“Cadets are brought back to the ’80s and ’90s: no cellphone, no electronics, no make up or jewelry,” said retired Trooper Michele Naab. “Old school.”
The 56 cadets from Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties are taking part in the Pennsylvania State Police Camp Cadet held at Valley Forge Military Academy off Eagle Road. The program is open to youth ages 11 to 14 and for counselors up to age 18. Actives range from archery, and push carts to crime scene investigation and proper use of firearms. (PETE BANNAN-DAILY TIMES)
The program is patterned after the training for recruits to become troopers in the state police.
“We want to introduce kids (to) law enforcement, have them (hear) from municipal officers and troopers what it’s like to be in law enforcement, gaining practical knowledge in crime scene investigation. We introduce them to K-9s, aviation department, the bomb squad will come out, all types of stuff like that,” said Trooper Paul Holdefer, Troop K public information officer. “The general things you would do at a police academy.”
The rigorous overnight camp has the cadets up at 5:30 a.m. doing calisthenics and running a mile before breakfast and before most of their civilian classmates and counterparts are out of bed.
The 56 cadets from Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties are taking part in the Pennsylvania State Police Camp Cadet held at Valley Forge Military Academy off Eagle Road. The program is open to youth ages 11 to 14 and for counselors up to age 18. Actives range from archery, and push carts to crime scene investigation and proper use of firearms. (PETE BANNAN-DAILY TIMES)
Holdefer said Camp Cadet has been going on since the 1970s and has been very successful, with a number of graduates having gone into law enforcement.
Cadets take part in or see presentations from a variety of police specialties. They learn safe handling of firearms and will fire a rifle while closely monitored at a range.
“How to shoot, knowing what is behind your target and all of things they have to know about firearm safety,” Holdefer said.
Buckingham Police Officer Steve Thomas with Gabe Dunn, 12, Springfield, on the archery range Monday at Troop K’s Camp Cadet at Valley Forge Military Academy. (PETE BANNAN-DAILY TIMES)
“We’re training the bodies and the minds. We’re trying to give these kids a sense of personal responsibility, making sure they are on top of themselves but also looking out for their fellow cadets and their fellow humans,” Holdefer said.
He said the instructors like to put time in for the kids to see a path in life, to “teach them personal responsibility and get them on the right path. That is what we prefer.”
The camp also has plenty of fun activities, such as rock climbing, pushcart races, archery, basketball and swimming.
On Monday, the cadets learned about the science of crime scene investigation.
One of the 56 cadets attending the Pennsylvania State Police Camp Cadet held at Valley Forge Military Academy takes part in a simulation of impaired driving. (PETE BANNAN-DAILY TIMES)
Instructors told the cadets what to look for at the scene, and gave tips about interviewing witnesses to quickly and accurately find the who, what and where of events.
State police accident reconstruction expert Cpl. Ed Homa told the cadets that good investigators want to ask what he called an open-ended and fact-finding question.
“We want to give the person we are interviewing an opportunity to elaborate and tell the story to us, no just asking one little question and get a yes or no answer,” he said.
Homa also said it is important to document the events and details accurately.
A cadet takes notes during classes on crime scene investigation at the Pennsylvania State Police Camp Cadet held at Valley Forge Military Academy this week. (PETE BANNAN-DAILY TIMES)
“Police work isn’t just exciting, it involves paperwork. We need to have details straight,” he said. “You must have a compelling and straight story to tell a judge and jury.”
Cadets who have taken part in the program are able to stay involved as junior counselors from age 14 to 18, and from a sampling of interviews, the program is a success.
“It gives a nice insight to a law enforcement career: what they do, how they do it, the structure. I’m interested in a law enforcement career,” said Paul Graham, 14, of Radnor who was doing 10 push-ups after losing what he called a “friendly” archery competition.
Paul Graham, 14, of Radnor does push-ups after losing what he called a “friendly” archery competition. (PETE BANNAN-DAILY TIMES)
“Camp Cadet is really a great experience. It helps kids try new things they may not have tried before. It’s inspiring if you want to be a cop or trooper, and they have nice activities to get you going in the morning,” said Erin Johnson,13, of Sharon Hill. “It’s a good experience.”
“I like being able to help kids learn new experiences, have fun and overcome the challenges they have to work through,” said Sara Krol, 15, of New Cumberland. “Troopers have interesting jobs. It’s very interesting work they do, all the specializations they have.”
Asked about the early morning routine, Krol said the early start and the marching isn’t that bad.
“The marching, it’s fun to teach the new people how to do it,” she said.
Selina Do, 13, of Havertown said she doesn’t hate the marching.
“It’s livable,” she said.
Allison Homa, 14 of Media climbs the rock wall. “I learned a bunch of stuff, rifles, archery, we learned how to march, how the do the military procedure. It’s kind of cool, the rhythm of it,” she said. (PETE BANNAN-DAILY TIMES)
Later in the week, cadets will take part in a mock traffic stop and then a mock court trial to learn about those important aspects of police work, followed by graduation on Friday.
Troop K Camp Cadet is classified as a public charity under sections 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service Code and is qualified to receive tax-deductible gifts/donations.
All money goes directly to the camp. Holdefer said that over the years the cost of attending the camp has risen to $200 per cadet, though it was once a free camp.
Financial donations are accepted at https://troopkcampcadet.com.
The 56 cadets from Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties are taking part in the Pennsylvania State Police Camp Cadet held at Valley Forge Military Academy off Eagle Road. The program is open to youth ages 11 to 14 and for counselors up to age 18. Actives range from archery, and push carts to crime scene investigation and proper use of firearms. (PETE BANNAN-DAILY TIMES)
Originally Published: July 7, 2025 at 6:31 PM EDT