Junior Firefighter camp promotes teamwork, leadership

For one week Julia Russell and Amie Terreberry shed their given monikers and assumed the persona of Burrito and Fruitbat, respectively; nicknames, after all, are a time-honoured tradition amongst firefighters.

Joined by the likes of SamIAm, Helmet, JackAttack, and others, Burrito and Fruitbat were two of 15 enrolled in the Town of Pelham’s Junior Firefighter camp.

Held at Station 2 in Fenwick, the camp provides kids with an interactive opportunity to learn fire safety and gain insight into the career of a firefighter.

For Terreberry, admittedly at her mom’s behest to choose a few camps to attend this summer, she says that the firefighter camp was one that really stood out to her.

“The firefighter camp sounded really interesting,” she said. “I’m most looking forward to learning CPR.”

Also with some guidance from mom, Russell’s experience is one that will hit close to home, her stepdad a firefighter.

“My mom told me there would be a bunch of cool stuff and that I’d probably be up in the aerial and I really wanted to come,” said Russell. “I’m having a lot of fun so far.”

To the surprise of few, moms know their stuff.

Pelham’s Fire Prevention Officer and Camp Administrator, Will Underwood, sees great value in the camp, and is happy to play a role in organization and assisting in the exercises.

“I like the camp because it gives children a good sense of what the everyday life of a firefighter is,” he said. “The kids definitely get a better appreciation of the hard work that goes into firefighting and why the profession is so well respected; they learn something as simple as CPR and first aid to extricating people from vehicles to operating a charged hose line which simulates extinguishing a fire.”

Now in its second year, the camp provides campers the opportunity to run through the different scenarios firefights deal with on a daily basis, with in-depth instruction and safety tips from Pelham’s own.

Some of the activities campers take part in are:  hose operation, search and rescue, fire extinguishers, ropes and knots, ground and aerial ladders, first aid, CPR and extrication.

In addition to living the life of a firefighter for a work, campers also take with them an increased ability and understanding of teamwork and leadership.

Camp culminates with a demonstration on a particular topic from each platoon and a following graduation ceremony.

Though it will be some time before any of the junior firefighters make a career choice, Terreberry hasn’t ruled out continuing down the path.

“Well, I’m a cadet,” she said. “So maybe [I will become a firefighter].”

For more information on Pelham camps visit: http://www.pelham.ca/en/experience/Summer-Camps-and-Programs.aspx