ST. CLOUD -- The City of St. Cloud and the St. Cloud Police Department have worked together to bring the first St. Cloud Youth Leadership Academy (SCYLA).

The academy is made up of twenty St. Cloud area male youth ranging from thirteen to sixteen years old.

The group will depart from the police headquarters parking lot this Sunday at 3:00 p.m. and head north for a week long stay at Camp Ripley.

Chief Anderson says their goal for the academy "is to build character and help these young people develop into responsible, community oriented citizens that we can all be proud of."

The academy involves classroom instruction, team building exercises, team sports and mentoring.

The academy will conclude on Friday August 2, 2013 with a graduation ceremony at Police Department Headquarters at 10:30 a.m.

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