“Remember, up-two-three, then down-two-three.”

Cpl. Mike Dougherty is explaining the art of the salute to a group of 10-year-olds.

There are about 20 of them, a mix of girls and boys lined up in two rows in a gymnasium at Guildford Park Secondary School.

The trick, Dougherty explains, is to bring your hand up a little slower than you bring it down.

“Salute!” he calls out.

There is a flurry of movement. Not everyone uses the correct hand.

“We’ll try it again,” Dougherty says.

“We’re getting there.”

As Dougherty demonstrates the difference between standing easy, at ease and at attention, Cpl. Rafael Alvarez inspects the line-up, a brass-handled drill stick neatly tucked under one massive arm.

He whispers encouragement to the children, calling each by their name.

“You look awesome, kids,” Alvarez says.

It is the fourth year of the Surrey RCMP’s annual junior police academy.

The free day camp is operated by the RCMP and the City of Surrey parks department for children aged six to 10.

The program ran on different days this week in Whalley, Guildford, Newton, Cloverdale and South Surrey schools.

This year, about 400 children were signed up for the one-day training sessions that include lunch, free T-shirts and badges for all participants.

“It’s a chance for them to get to know the police on an informal basis,” says Sgt. Shelly Jacobsen, head of the Surrey RCMP Youth section.

A chance to come out and have fun and learn something about police.”

In another gymnasium, students are going through physical fitness drills that include mock foot pursuits.

They take turns, one child getting a head start as the designated bad guy who is chased by the pretend police officer, trying to tag the crook.

No tackling is allowed.

In another room, students are getting a course in fingerprinting.

Later in the day, they will watch a police dog demonstration and get a close look at some police vehicles, including motorcycles and ATVs.

Eight-year-old South Surrey resident Brandon Grant is attending his fourth academy.

He says his favourite thing in four years has been a drunk driving simulation.

“You put on goggles that make it look like you’re drunk but you’re not,” he explains. “You have to go into these small cars and you have to drive around and if you smash into a barrier you have to do 10 push-ups.”

He doesn’t plan to do any drinking and driving when he’s older.

dferguson@surreyleader.com