Fire Youth Academy

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

The ideal candidates are local youth - 8th graders starting high school in the Fall to high school Seniors graduating in the current year (14-18 years of age)- 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

Two youth academy sessions are held during the summer and run for two weeks each, Monday thru Friday 8am-4pm. A graduation ceremony will be held for each session on the last day. Attendance at the orientation meeting for the requested session is MANDATORY- the candidate and a parent/guardian MUST attend. Failure to attend the orientation may drop you from the program.

Session 1 Orientation: May 27th, 10am-12pm  |    Session 2 Orientation: July 8th, 10am-12pm

Session 1: June 12th-June 23rd                        |    Session 2: July 24th-August 4th

For more information, contact Rosa Meyer at 831-768-3209.

APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED FOR THE 2023 SUMMER SESSIONS. 

PLEASE CHECK BACK IN MAY FOR OUR 2024 SUMMER SESSIONS.