Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) Academy hosted a field trip today for kids in the Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Capital Region's (BBBSCR) program and their mentors. Attendees included 11 participating "Bigs in Blue" mentors from PSP and local police departments and their "Littles". In addition to the 11 troopers and officers, 28 Littles, 18 high school "Bigs", school support staff, and BBBSCR staff also participated.
Activities included a hands-on look at various PSP special units and equipment, including a helicopter, canines, horses, and a bomb squad robot. After being served lunch in the academy cafeteria, the Bigs and Littles participated in de-escalation training, fitness activities, and skill demonstrations.
"We are proud to participate in the Bigs in Blue program and host this group of outstanding kids today," said PSP Captain Christopher King, director of the Office of Community Engagement. "We appreciate our relationship with Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Capital Region and look forward to continuing to make a difference in our communities through programs like this."
"We are grateful to the Pennsylvania State Police for hosting today's field trip and for their program partnership through our 'Bigs in Blue' program," says Amy Rote, BBBSCR President & CEO. "Our goal today is to expand the students' knowledge of law enforcement training, educate them on how to communicate with police officers in an emergency, and reinforce the importance of avoiding risky behaviors."
PSP began participating in the Bigs in Blue program in 2017. Personnel of all ranks from various locations take part in the site-based program, visiting with their Littles for school lunches, recesses, and one-on-one conversations or help with classwork. In 2021, PSP also began participating in the BBBSCR's Youth Rise: Stand Together, a DEI-focused workforce development program.
For more information on the Pennsylvania State Police, visit psp.pa.gov.
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