For four decades, Pennsylvania State Police Troop L’s Camp Cadet program has been offering local youth a unique summer experience that blends discipline, teamwork, and law enforcement education. This year’s camp — marking the 40th anniversary since Troop L launched its first program in 1985 — hosted 90 cadets for a week packed with activities modeled after a “mini police academy.”
Held annually for youth ages 12 to 15, Camp Cadet’s mission is summed up in its motto: “Grow through discipline, achievement through teamwork, and pride through respect.” Trooper Ethan Brownback, Troop L’s Public Information Officer and Camp Director, said this year’s group stood out for their perseverance and commitment.
“This particular class has certainly evolved as one of our outstanding classes,” Brownback said. “I’m very, very proud of these cadets — what they’ve accomplished, pushing themselves past pain, further than they’ve ever thought they could go.”
Throughout the week, cadets participated in a range of demonstrations and training exercises, many of which offered rare, up-close access to law enforcement operations. The schedule included visits from the Secret Service, FBI, and local SWAT teams, where cadets got to handle specialized gear, witness flash bang and smoke bomb demonstrations, and fire a .22 caliber rifle — for many, their first time handling a firearm.
Other activities included horseback riding, scuba diving, and even a parachute landing demonstration. Brownback said these experiences are consistent with the camp’s long-standing tradition of exposing participants to a variety of public safety careers.
On Friday, just one day before graduation, cadets took part in a fire investigation program led by Trooper Corey Heimbach, Troop L’s Fire Marshal. The training began with a live burn of a mock room inside a shipping container, which allowed cadets to observe fire behavior, examine burn patterns, and learn how investigators determine the origin and cause of a fire.
“In the container, we built a little mock room, burned it, and then had the fire department put it out,” Heimbach explained. “We then showed them the fire patterns and evidence left behind. It’s about exposing them to what we do as fire investigators.”
The session also included a display of burned artifacts — from toy cars to cell phones — used to teach cadets how investigators identify objects in fire debris and determine whether they may have played a role in the fire’s cause.
Camp Cadet operates as a nonprofit organization and relies heavily on community donations to cover its annual operating expenses, which total around $55,000. Participant fees cover only a portion of the program’s cost, making sponsorships and contributions essential to keeping the camp accessible.
Brownback expressed gratitude to the families who entrusted their children to the program. “We just want to thank all the parents and guardians who were willing to send their children here to Camp Cadet, and certainly the cadets for being willing to take this challenge,” he said.
The 2025 Troop L Camp Cadet graduation ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, capping off a milestone year for the program that has shaped generations of young people through discipline, teamwork, and respect.