Ever Wonder How Front Royal Runs? Citizens Academy Opens Applications for New Class

Ever wonder what happens behind the scenes to keep Front Royal running?

How does the Town deliver electricity to homes and businesses? What happens to wastewater after it disappears down the drain? How does the Town make decisions about new development, road maintenance, and public safety?

Residents interested in finding out can get an inside look through the Town of Front Royal’s Citizens Academy, which is accepting applications for its 2026–2027 program.

The free, interactive program begins Wednesday, November 18, 2026, and continues through June 2027, giving participants the chance to learn directly from the people who run Town departments and provide essential community services.

But anyone interested in participating should apply soon. Enrollment is limited to just 12 people.

A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Local Government

The Citizens Academy was created to help residents better understand how local government works and encourage greater community involvement.

Rather than simply sitting through presentations, participants can expect demonstrations, tours of Town facilities, and opportunities to ask questions of employees who manage municipal operations.

Town staff and subject-matter experts will lead sessions and explain not only what their departments do, but also the challenges of delivering public services.

For example, participants will learn how water is treated before reaching household faucets, how wastewater is processed, and what goes into maintaining Town streets and infrastructure.

Other sessions will provide insight into how Front Royal plans for growth, manages its electric utility, supports tourism, and protects public safety.

The goal is to give participants a clearer understanding of how the different departments work together and how government decisions affect everyday life.

What Will Participants Learn?

The academy will explore eight areas of Town operations over seven instructional sessions.

Topics include:

• Local Government Operations: How the Town Council, Town Manager, and municipal departments work together.
• Planning and Zoning: How land-use regulations, development proposals, and long-range planning affect the community.
• Community Development and Tourism: How the Town encourages economic activity, supports businesses, and attracts visitors.
• Public Safety: A closer look at the Front Royal Police Department and its responsibilities.
• Energy Services: How the Town operates its electric utility and delivers power to customers.
• Public Works: How employees maintain roads, streets, public facilities, and other infrastructure.
• Water Treatment: How the Town treats and supplies drinking water to the community.
• Wastewater Treatment: How wastewater is processed to protect public health and the environment.

Participants will have opportunities to interact with Town employees and learn about services they may use every day but rarely see firsthand.

Seven Sessions, Followed by Graduation

Classes begin November 18 and will generally meet on the third Wednesday of each month from 6 to 8 p.m.

The December session is an exception and will meet on the second Wednesday of the month.

The seven instructional sessions will conclude in May, followed by a graduation ceremony during the Town Council’s regular meeting on Monday, June 28, 2027.

Participants are encouraged to attend every session, although the program permits up to two absences.

The academy provides a broad introduction to Town operations rather than specialized training in any one department.

Who Can Apply?

The Citizens Academy is open to adults 18 and older who either live within Front Royal’s Town limits or own a business there.

The Town will give priority to residents.

Participation is free, but enrollment is limited to 12 people to maintain an interactive experience.

The small class size allows participants to speak directly with department representatives, ask questions, and take part in activities that might not be practical with a larger group.

How to Register

Applications are available online through the Town’s registration form.

Click Here to Apply for the 2026–2027 Front Royal Citizens Academy

The program begins November 18, so interested residents and business owners are encouraged to submit their applications promptly.

For questions or additional information, contact the Town by email at hwilfong@frontroyalva.com.

More information about the program is also available on the Town of Front Royal’s Citizens Academy webpage.

Learning More About the Community You Call Home

The Citizens Academy offers an opportunity to see local government from a different perspective.

For residents who have attended Town Council meetings, wondered how decisions are implemented, or simply wanted to understand where their tax and utility dollars go, the program provides direct access to the people responsible for delivering municipal services.

Participants can leave with a better appreciation of the work involved in maintaining a community, along with a clearer understanding of how they can participate in local government.

And for 12 Front Royal residents or business owners, that experience begins November 18.