Fire Youth Academy

The Watsonville Fire Department is committed to reaching out to the youth of our community by providing them with a safe environment that builds confidence and promotes character building, personal growth, responsibility, and accountability through mentoring, training, and teamwork. The purpose of the program is to introduce our youth to the fire service and provide them with learning opportunities that challenge and inspire them to realize their potential and guide them toward being productive members of our community.

The ideal candidates are local youth who are responsible, committed, have a good attitude/demeanor, are eager to learn, and are willing to push themselves beyond their current abilities. Youth academy attendees will be expected to work as a team, be respectful of everyone, be reliable, treat the equipment and facilities with respect, and help with cleanup. Daily attendance is expected.

Some of the firefighting skills attendees will learn: 

• Hose pulls and ladders
• Vehicle Extrication
• Ropes and Knots; 
• Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus; Victim Rescue
• Introduction to CPR and First Aid
• Forcible Entry

This year, the youth academy will be a weeklong session from June 23rd to June 27th. It will run Monday through Friday, 8 am-4pm. A graduation ceremony will be held on the last day.

The application period is now closed. Information on the next application period for the 2026 youth academy will be available in April/May 2026.

For more information or questions regarding the youth academy program, contact Rosa Meyer at 831.768.3209 or email at rosa.meyer@watsonville.gov.