CHOOSE YOUR PROGRAM

ARCHERY

Archery offers kids a combination of physical and mental skill development. Our young archers gain a sense of accomplishment from goal setting and sportsmanship. The Archery program at PAL-KCK is led by two police officers certified to teach archery through the Kansas Wildlife and Parks as part of the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP). As a solo sport, archery instills focus, discipline and confidence. The program also opens the door to other PAL-KCK programs that share the fundamentals of hunting, fishing and camping while educating participants about safety, local conservation and wildlife. Class instruction size is limited, so inquire below about availability.

COMPUTER SKILLS

The computer lab at the PAL gives students access to adult mentors who help them with a wide range of computer skills development and homework help. It’s a place where they can comfortably do homework after school or during summer evenings. Whether they’re improving keyboarding skills or getting an orientation to software engineering, PAL member students are making good use of time after school. (Note: this is a separate program from our Tutoring program. See details below under "Tutoring - Fall.")

Many kids at the PAL lack computers and/or internet connectivity at home, which inhibits their familiarity with digital tools and mastery of computer skills. Our program provides accessible technology and support in everything from keyboarding to homework subjects. Adult mentors with subject-matter expertise are available to help children at all grade levels. Tutoring is available during PAL’s standard operating hours.

DRIVER'S EDUCATION

The KCK Police Athletic League pioneered the nation’s first Driver’s Education Program for teens that is completely free for students and run by police officers. This amazing program is helping to save lives in and around Kansas and mentoring students through the process of earning a driver’s permit and a Kansas license. In our program, students will be taught by police officers who help them through the entire licensing process, including registering at the DMV, learning how to maintain good practices of vehicle and road safety, and obtaining vehicle insurance (required by KS law). Since the program’s inception in 2021, the PAL has successfully trained more than 200 new licensed drivers.

The PAL KCK program is a direct response to a dire community need: motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for ages individuals 15 to 18 in Kansas. Local high schools no longer offer driver’s ed courses. In our urban community, 75% of eligible teens do not have a license and many drive without a license, incurring fines and court fees, and worse – endangering themselves and others.

The program is designed for low-income teens in Wyandotte County who cannot afford private driving schools instruction. The PAL program is not only an economic solution, it's also an effective crime prevention strategy that helps youth avoid driving illegally and violating the law.

In lieu of fees, the PAL requires students to complete 30 hours of community service, plus the mandatory class and road classes, to earn a Kansas driver’s license.

The program is in high demand and currently has a wait list. If you are interested, and you are a Kansas resident, please join the PAL using the button below and join the waitlist. Priority is given to students who are eligible for free or reduced lunch.

GARDENING & NUTRITION

One of the most important programs at the PAL is our Gardening & Nutrition program. Centered in our expansive outdoor garden (on property where abandoned drug houses once stood), children are learning alongside adult mentors how to grow and prepare food for their families and their futures.

PAL kids are planting, growing and harvesting vegetables, fruits and plants in dozens of raised beds, vineyards, fruit trees and a greenhouse. They’re tending to chickens and eggs in our coop, and watching our police officer beekeepers tend to the hives so they can show kids how to make valuable local honey. The garden produces more than 1,000 lbs. of produce, 2,500 eggs and 150 lbs. of honey each year.

And in our outdoor kitchen classroom, they’re learning how to grow food organically (without synthetic chemicals and fertilizers) and prepare it. For kids who haven’t learned much about healthy eating, our garden is a veritable learning lab for them.

For generations, the fertile soil of the Strawberry Hill neighborhood in KCK has fed families in our community.  It’s doing so again for the hundreds of kids who enjoy the fun of participating in our Gardening & Nutrition program during growing season.

HUNTING

The PAL’s Hunting program is an advanced program for students who successfully complete the required PAL Gun Safety & Marksmanship program taught by experienced instructors and police officers who focus on safety and accountability.

Upon completing the marksmanship component of the program, participants are eligible to attend the Kansas Hunter Safety Course. The reward for all this hard work and dedication is the chance to go on real hunts with PAL officers, with all equipment and transportation provided. The learning, mentoring and friendships that result from these unforgettable day trips build character and resilience as few other experiences can, and prepare students to respect and enjoy the sport for a lifetime.

The sport of hunting is much more than meets the eye. It teaches attention to detail, builds confidence and a strong sense of responsibility. Teaching kids to hunt when they’re young gives them a deeper appreciation for the natural world and their place in it.