Due to COVID-19, the Portland Division FBI, in conjunctions with our partners, had to make the very difficult decision to cancel this year’s FBI Teen Academy.
We explored every possible scenario hence the delay in coming to the final decision. There are just too many unknowns with the most important being we just cannot guarantee the ability to safeguard the participants. For those who will not graduate in 2021, I will hold onto their application for the 2021 FBI Teen Academy where if they are still interested, they will have a seat! In addition, when we are in the clear of COVID-19 and social distancing restrictions have been lifted, for those whose application I currently have in hand, I am working on putting together a special event for them.
Key Points to Reference:
- The academy is for current sophomores and juniors in high school
- There is no cost to attend the academy
Our Teen Academy program allows high school students an opportunity to get a comprehensive look into today’s FBI. Generally, each course iteration is a minimum of eight hours but can be a week-long program with blocks of instruction and demonstrations at a local field office. Students are provided with several presentations on topics including terrorism, cyber crime, public corruption, polygraph exams, evidence response, SWAT, and the day-to-day operations of a typical FBI office. Students also learn from special agents, intelligence analysts, language specialists, and professional staff about investigative tactics that include gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, and assisting with cases.
The FBI Portland Division is partnering with the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) to host the 2020 Teen Academy. Thirty high school students will be selected from across the state to attend the weeklong, in-residence camp in July. Students will have the opportunity to work directly with FBI agents, FBI specialty teams, and local law enforcement graduates from the FBI's National Academy program.