For the second consecutive summer, Cleary University welcomed the Detroit Police Department Law Enforcement Explorers to campus for an immersive week of leadership, learning and personal growth.
The annual camp gives young people an inside look at careers in law enforcement while introducing them to college life. Throughout the week, the Explorers lived in Cleary’s residence halls, enjoyed meals prepared by Clancy’s Cafe, and experienced what it feels like to be part of a college community.
By day, students participated in hands-on training modeled after a police academy. They learned the fundamentals of active shooter response, crime scene investigations, drills and ceremonies, mobile field force operations, felony stops and other aspects of modern policing. Just as importantly, they developed practical life skills through communication and job interview preparation designed to help them succeed beyond the classroom.
“We’re giving them a diluted version of what we’ve all experienced as far as going through the police academy,” said Detroit Police Detective Antaeus Evans, a leader in the program. “We make it fun, but we also want to make them aware of the things we’ve had to go through.”
Evans, an 18-year veteran of the Detroit Police Department and current Cleary University student in the University’s accelerated First Responders degree program, has spent more than a decade mentoring young people through the Explorer program. He believes exposing students to new experiences can change the course of their lives.
“When you deal with inner-city youth, you don’t always know what they’ve been exposed to,” Evans said. “Some kids have never left the city limits. Coming here is an experience. We try to create an experience within an experience so they go back and tell others about it.”
The camp also helps students see police officers in a different light.
“Kids don’t always realize police officers are human,” Evans said. “We live in the residence halls with them for five days. They get to know us beyond the badge. We build relationships, and that helps create trust.”
Hosting the camp at Cleary offers another important benefit: introducing students to higher education.
“I think coming to Cleary gives them an opportunity to see what college life looks like,” Evans said. “They stay in the residence halls, spend time on campus and get comfortable being in that environment. Hopefully, when they make that transition someday, it won’t feel so foreign.”
For many participants, it is their first opportunity to experience life away from home while living alongside peers, attending structured classes and developing the independence needed to succeed in college.
The program also reflects Evans’ own educational journey. As a student in Cleary University’s accelerated First Responders degree program, he understands firsthand how higher education can help public safety professionals grow both personally and professionally.
Throughout the week, the Explorers balanced rigorous training with opportunities to relax, build friendships and have fun. Meals together, downtime in the residence halls and shared experiences created lasting memories alongside valuable lessons.
“We really dig in, and we offer up the best parts of ourselves to give back to the youth in the community,” Evans said.
Cleary University is proud to partner with the Detroit Police Department in supporting the next generation of public servants. By combining meaningful career exploration with an authentic college experience, the Explorer Camp empowers students to envision futures in law enforcement, higher education and community leadership.
