Camp Courage: First responder camp in Halifax for teenage girls seeks participants
A Nova Scotia based camp that introduces young women and gender-diverse youth to careers as first responders is looking for participants.
Halifax Fire Capt. Andréa Speranza founded Camp Courage: The First Responders Society in 2006 to help create more diversity in a line of work largely dominated by men.
“With less than one per cent female firefighters, I felt that it was an underrepresented group,” said Speranza.
The free, eight-day camp gives young women age’s 15-19 hands-on experience and education in over a dozen emergency services careers.
“We have a 36 per cent success rate of girls moving on into post-secondary education and careers,” said Speranza.
Those success stories include current firefighter recruits like Christie Webb who participated in the camp in 2013.
“It was the best week I’ve ever had in my life,” said Webb. “It really solidified that I wanted to be a firefighter. I’ve never looked back.”
Some of the activities and skills taught during the camp include self-defence, crime scene investigation, delivering mechanical babies, and extinguishing fires.
Madison Newcombe was selected for the camp in 2019.
“After the camp, I started volunteering instantly because I knew I wanted to explore firefighting,” said Newcombe. “Everything aligned for me when recruitment came up. It’s surreal!”
The camp has expanded to other cities in Canada including Calgary.
Many former graduates return as mentors, including Jenny Rowlands, who took part in the inaugural camp when she was just 17-years-old.
“I saw a bunch of the women that were strong and powerful leaders,” said Rowlands, who is currently training to become a firefighter. “I thought to myself, I want to be just like them.”
The First Responders Society also offers bursaries to support camp alumni who continue their education in emergency services.
“It’s a life-changing experience,” said Speranza. “It’s the most supportive environment you will ever experience in your life.”
Camp Courage Halifax takes place from July 2-9. Twenty-four teenage girls are selected each year to take part.
Applicants are required to write an essay on how they can improve someone else’s life or community and submit two letters of recommendation.
The deadline to apply for this year’s camp is Monday, March 20.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Poilievre will do 'anything to win,' must condemn Alex Jones endorsement: Trudeau
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is ramping up his attacks on Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre as he promotes his government's federal budget.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Ukraine uses long-range missiles secretly provided by U.S. to hit Russian-held areas, officials say
Ukraine for the first time has begun using long-range ballistic missiles provided secretly by the United States, bombing a Russian military airfield in Crimea last week and Russian forces in another occupied area overnight, American officials said Wednesday.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
All Alberta wildfires to date in 2024 believed to be human-caused: province
There are 63 wildfires burning in Alberta's forest protection area as of Wednesday morning and seven mutual aid fires, including one in the Municipal District of Peace.
7 surveillance videos linked to extortions of South Asian home builders in Edmonton released
The Edmonton Police Service has released a number of surveillance videos related to a series of extortion cases in the city now dubbed 'Project Gaslight.'
Suspects waving weapons, smashing glass in Toronto jewelry store robbery caught on video
Arrests have been made after five men were captured on video rampaging through a jewelry store in Toronto, waving weapons and smashing glass display cases.
New evidence challenges the Pentagon's account of a horrific attack as the U.S. withdrew from Afghanistan: CNN exclusive
New video evidence uncovered by CNN significantly undermines two Pentagon investigations into an ISIS-K suicide attack outside Kabul airport, during the American withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.
Pilot proposes to flight attendant girlfriend in front of passengers
A Polish pilot proposed to his flight attendant girlfriend during a flight from Warsaw to Krakow, and she said yes.