Grand Island Police to host another year of summer youth program

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (KSNB) - The Grand Island Police Department is gearing up for another year of its summer youth program.

Led by GIPS School Resource Officers, the weeklong program keeps kids entertained and informed.

“We build relationships with them also, so they’re even more comfortable coming to us in the school if they have a problem,” said Jeremy Gildersleeve, SRO at GISH. “Instead of just being in uniform, it’s a lot more laid back during the summer youth program. We’re just in polos and shorts, playing with the kids, jumping right in with them.”

The week is jam-packed with activities ranging from exploring emergency response vehicles to learning about leadership, drug prevention and skills to be a good citizen.

The program is for students who just completed fifth grade and will be entering sixth grade for the 2026-27 school year.

With this being the year they transition to middle school, the program also provides a chance for the students to get to know each other before they make the next step.

“We want them to start getting familiar with some of the kids that they’re going to be going to school with, because a lot of times coming from 14 elementary schools down to three middle schools, they’re going to meet a lot of new people,” said David Caldwell, SRO at Walnut Middle School. “So it just gives them a little bit of a, you know, head start in that, meeting some of their new friends.”

The hands-on program is held in four different sessions throughout the month of June at Newell Elementary School.

Session dates are 8 a.m to 2 p.m. during the weeks of June 1–5, June 8–12, June 15–19 and June 22–26.

Students from Grand Island Public Schools, Northwest Public Schools, Grand Island Central Catholic and Trinity Lutheran are all welcome to sign up.

To register your child, click here.

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