Neighborhood meeting to feature Explorer program

The Shawnee Police Department with the assistance of the Boy Scouts of America will hold a “First Nighters Meeting” 6:30 p.m. July 29 on the Gordon Cooper Campus, Sky Lab No. 1. The meeting is scheduled as this month’s City Wide Neighborhood Watch meeting. The Boy Scouts will give a presentation on what being an Explorer means. Exploring is a Learning for Life’s career education program for young men and women who are 14 and have completed the eighth grade or 15 to 21 years old. Adults are selected as advisers by the participating organization for involvement in the program. Exploring is based on a relationship between youth and the organizations in their communities. The Shawnee Police Department will initiate the explorer post by matching officers and program resources to the interests of young people in the community. The result will be a program of activities that helps youth pursue their special interests, grow and develop. The youth benefit from the education and career information insight into future vocation. “The young adults are given positive alternatives to negative youth activities, such as drug abuse and involvement with gangs. Also they are in a safe environment for real and meaningful hands-on experiences,” said Shawnee Police Department Information Officer Dan Shumaker. With Cpl. Freeland Wood coordinating the program, officers Vivian White and Aaron Laster will act as the first advisers to help set up the program in Shawnee. “The selected applicants will attend an academy and learn about a career in law enforcement. As time goes on, the kids will start leading the meetings and the adults will be advisers who assist the youth,” Wood said. “This is a great opportunity for the young adults to make and develop contacts that may help with employment options and success at school,” Shumaker said. Applications and advisers will be available at the meeting. For more information, call Wood or Shumaker at 405-273-2121.