APOPKA, Fla. — Local teens are learning what it takes to be a first responder through an annual summer camp.

The Apopka Public Safety Academy is a two-week academy for high schoolers interested in law enforcement or firefighting/EMS as a career.

The teens learn about SWAT teams, crime scene investigations, and fire search and rescues from hands-on training.

Several former campers have become Apopka firefighters, Public Information Officer Lt. Jerold Maynard said. Among them is William Ayala, an engineer emergency medical technician.

Ayala went from student to instructor at the camp.

“It feels surreal to be the person that when I was younger, I would see and be like, ‘I want to be just like that person,’” he said.

Ayala received a scholarship from the Armando Borjas Jr. Scholarship Foundation to attend fire and EMT school. One of his campers is the son of that scholarship’s namesake.

“It’s a really big family and I appreciate everybody here teaching me this stuff and giving me these opportunities and experiences so I know when I become a firefighter, I’ll be okay,” said Daniel Borjas, 15.

Daniel’s late father was an Apopka firefighter who died from job-related esophageal cancer in 2013.

“When I’m out here, I want to be like him,” Daniel said. “I want to do the stuff he did because I know he really impacted a bunch of people’s lives.”