With the help of Public Information Officers from the Los Angeles County Fire Department, the LAPD and the Federal Drug Enforcement Administration, this year's boot camp for aspiring reporters and anchors the best ever!!!

LA County Fire Department water dropping helicopters, a hazmat team, a firefighting team, an LAPD black and white with lights and sirens blaring, the presence of the DEA -- an arrest & perp walk, mock news conferences -- Star Trek Enterprise's Vaughn Armstrong as an emotional victim --- file tape of brushers, methlab explosion video and much more turned the Cottontail Ranch in Malibu into a virtual theme park for aspiring newspeople.

This year's breaking news story was a wildfire triggered by a methlab explosion responded to by a joint LAPD/DEA task force. The Anchor Academy played with a similar theme. The goal was for each student to make a realistic demo tape. The goal was met!

Thanks to all of the mentors who participated and students who came from as far away as New York!

We'll have much more on APTRA Academy 2002 next week, but for now here are some of the reactions from several students and a mentor:

"APTRA Academy was powerful. I could not find this kind of on-air practice and coaching anywhere else for this cost. All the mentors were passionate and knowledgeable. I'll be coming back. It was well worth the trip from New York." -- Ray East

"I can't believe the level of participation from the mentors. APTRA staff, and Public Information Officers. I came for a demo tape and I'm leaving with much more. Thank you! -- Heather Hutchins

"This is a great program. What made it so great was the mentors and professionals who came together to help out. In such a small time I've gained so much information. Thank you for creating a program for aspiring reporters." -- Amanda Jaurigui

"The experience was unbelievable. It's nothing I would've ever imagined. We received great advice from very helpful professionals. It was just like the real thing. Thanks! -- Rachel Salazar

"As a former student and two time mentor, this year's academy was by far the best example of a breaking news story for aspiring broadcasters. -- Natalie Tejeda

"What made APTRA boot camp great was the mentors; they weren't retirees or wanna-bes, they were among the most successful professional writers, producers and reporters in LA. I learned so much!" -- Susan Walter