GREAT Training

The Gang Resistance Education and Training (G.R.E.A.T.) program is a life-skills competency program designed to provide students with the skills they need to avoid gang pressure and youth violence. G.R.E.A.T.'s violence prevention curriculum helps students develop values and practice behaviors that will assist them to avoid destructive activities. The G.R.E.A.T. program coordinates with federal, regional, state and local agencies, as well as individuals from community and civic groups. The goal of the G.R.E.A.T. program is to train law enforcement officers in a school-based curriculum in which the officers provide instruction to school-aged children in life skill competencies, gang awareness, and anti-violence techniques. Training in the core G.R.E.A.T. program is provided to officers from any state or local law enforcement agency.

The main focus of the City of Tigard's G.R.E.A.T. Program is to fund their G.R.E.A.T. Summer Camp, Police Activity League (PAL) Sports Camp, G.R.E.A.T. Families Training, and the G.R.E.A.T. Middle School Core Curriculum. They plan to have eight weeks of G.R.E.A.T. Summer Camp, partnering with PAL Sports Camp, serving over 600 youth students; and one training camp serving about 75 teenagers. Daily activities include G.R.E.A.T. lessons, concept games, life-skills activities, safety lessons, guest presentations, reading, and arts and crafts. Each camp also includes at least two field trips. The Tigard Police Department's G.R.E.A.T. camp has five goals for 5th, 6th, and 7th grade students: (1) instill the G.R.E.A.T. anti-drug, anti-violence, and anti-gang messages; (2) teach or improve life-skills; (3) establish rapport between youth and adults; (4) improve youth safety at home and in the community; and (5) show that a drug-free lifestyle is attainable, desirable, fun, exciting, and "cool."

CA/NCF