PCYC Reboot camp helps teens 'turn things around'

But will not be their only challenge at Kapooka.

Rhayne Toole and Reggie Coe, both 16 years old, joined this year’s Reboot camp, alongside a number of boys from across the state. 

Jointly run with Army, the four-day NSW Police-led program takes up to 20 young NSW men – and women in an alternate camp – through a range of exercises and activities to help build motivation, self-worth, leadership and respect.

Wagga teen Reggie said working alongside police, and opening up about their stories had been "something different”, taking them outside their comfort zones. 

“You think: ‘they’re the police, they’re bad’,” Reggie said. “But it’s good to get around them.”

He said the week had been tiring but fun. 

Similarly, Rhayne said getting to know the cops on the course had given him and others the opportunity to hear about their lives, what they go through and how hard things could be for them. 

“It turns things around,” Rhayne said. “It has really turned things around for us.” 

He said the camp had been tiring and hard in some ways, but also fun. The Bathurst teen said it was easy to push on when everyone was cheering at you and cheering you on.

Sergeant Lyn Blaikie said the week at Kapooka was unlike any other. She said it helped improve relationships between police and the young blokes. 

In a statement, PCYC said often participants faced labels like “bad” or “criminal” and could feel defined and ostracised as a result.

Sergeant Blaikie, of the youth crime prevention squad, said Reboot aimed to prove the young men and women could make positive contributions to the community and did not have to let those labels define them. 

“They see we’re like them and they can trust us,” Sergeant Blaikie said. “You can see with your own two eyes how it’s breaking down the barriers.” 

Major James Van Strijp said they would “feel 10 feet tall and bulletproof at the end”.