MEADVILLE, Pa. — Seventeen Venango County youths are participating in the Pennsylvania State Police Camp Cadet program this week at Allegheny College in Meadville.

(Venango County youths: (pictured above, from front left to right) Isaiah McFeaters, Bo Myers, Mariah Wessell, Claire Kriebel, Hunter Johnson, Dale Swoger, Benjamin Garland, Hayden Wilson, Cole Harmon, Morgan Wessell, Cayden Baker, Dylan Strait, Sean Quen, Grayden Harmon, Dominick Greer, Lillian Hargenrader, and Orie Hepler.)

The camp is a week-long, overnight program for youth ages 13-15. Staffed 24 hours per day by state troopers, it is open to all Erie, Crawford, Warren, and Venango County students.

The purpose of Camp Cadet is to instill self-discipline, self-respect, and self-esteem while teaching paramilitary discipline and courtesy.

Cadets participate in a variety of instructional lessons including radar, traffic stops, forensics, building searches, polygraph, and use of force. Activities include an obstacle course and platoon competitions.

The camp began on Sunday, June 16, and will conclude with a graduation ceremony on Friday, June 21.

More information on Troop E Camp Cadet can be found at pacampcadet.com.