More than 70 young men and woman who may be interested in pursuing firefighting as a career will take part in a series of innovative, hands-on Fire Science Career Exploration Camps at the University of Oshkosh this summer. The season’s first camp, designed to introduce girls to the profession, took place June 12-15.
The camps expose 15 to 20 year olds to a variety of activities including EMS training, a high ropes course and tours of local fire departments and industry-related manufacturing companies.
“Our goal is to give participants as real a view of fire service careers as possible,” said Brianna Obright, UW Oshkosh camp manager. “All the camp instructors are professional firefighters and campers have the unique opportunity to network and connect with fire and emergency medical service professionals.
The girls camp is one of a few UW Oshkosh lasting between four and five days and running in June and July. The fire camps are offered each summer to three unique audiences.
The Basic Fire Camp is offered to all students at any level of experience who are interested in fire service careers. The Gals Only Camp is for young women and is taught by a mostly female staff. The Advanced Fire Camp is offered to those who have participated in either the Basic Fire Camp or the Gals Only Camp previously and have served as a fire department intern or belong to a fire science explorer team.Camp participants had the opportunity to handle ladders, hoses, fire extinguishers and self-contained breathing apparatuses. Advanced Camp participants participated in a live burn and firefighting training activities.
Shannon Young, a battalion chief at the Appleton Fire Department, has been on the fire camp planning committee since 2004. She said the camps give youth more than just a taste of the life of a firefighter.
“The kids wear our gear and perform some of the day-to-day firefighting activities. But the camps also show that firefighters need excellent communication and teamwork skills,” Young said. “Youth build these skills throughout the camps. They gain confidence in themselves, and I see them growing in just the short time span of the camp.”
Emilee Williams, 15, of Lakeville Ill., was a first-time participant at the Gals Only summer camp. Williams said she learned a lot from the camp and the firefighters.
“The instructors are so nice and understanding,” Williams said. “They push us a little out of our comfort zone.”
Williams hopes to follow in her father’s footsteps and become a career firefighter.
“I want to be the first female firefighter in my dad’s department. He supports me 110 percent,” Williams said.
Young said that many students like Williams are trying to see if the fire service is a good fit.
“So many of the students are dedicated to finding out if this is a good career path for them. Two former camp participants are actually now working as firefighters in the Fox Valley,” Young said.
Part of the camp is set aside for building skills related to education and career options.
“The firefighters who lead the lessons go over education requirements with the students. We talk about the process of applying to, testing for and gaining employment at a fire station,” Obright said.
Firefighters and camp leaders discuss associate and bachelor’s degree options at public institutions throughout the Fox Valley, as well as national trends in education requirements for firefighters and emergency response personnel.
“We all realize that these students are future generations of firefighters,” Obright said. “We want to show them what it’s like and give them a good idea of what it will take to achieve their goal.”
Building relationships among students, schools and fire departments
The camp activities are held at UW Oshkosh, Fox Valley Technical College, the Appleton Fire Department, the Neenah/Menasha Fire Department and the Oshkosh Fire Department. However, activities are only the beginning of the tight collaboration among the key actors.
The camp planning committee meets year-round, and includes fire chiefs, firefighters and representatives from area schools.
“I’m proud that not only is this a UW Oshkosh effort, it’s also a community effort,” Obright said.
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