The Jackson County Board is allocating $20,000 from the national opioid settlement funds to support the 2025 Team Illinois Youth Police Camp.
The camp, held at the Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center, is a week-long residency camp structured to promote educational and learning opportunities for youth ages 13-17 from diverse communities and backgrounds.
Areas of focus include law enforcement engagement, military structured exercises, cultural diversity, physical fitness, and social and interpersonal skills. The camp also focuses on prevention education related to opioid and substance abuse.
This camp is operated by local police and sheriff departments, social service agencies, the Illinois National Guard, and the Illinois State Police. The primary purpose is to establish inter-personal relations between the youth of this area and law enforcement in order to create a better understanding of the problems and attitudes of both groups.
The camp starts June 8, with graduation set for June 14.
