Adam Prudhomme
Editor
Stone Mills firefighters Lianne McAuley and Ashley Scaletta were at NDSS on Wednesday to help spread the word about an upcoming summer camp aimed at getting more females into the field of firefighting.
Set up just outside the school’s cafeteria, they were passing out registration forms and answering questions for any high school students who had interest in the unique program.
Running from July 17-20, Girls in Gear provides hands-on training for an assortment of careers related to firefighting.
“Girls in Gear is a four day free camp for girls ages 15-18 to introduce them to every aspect of the fire profession including communications, first-aid, repelling, auto (extrications), forcible entry, suppression,” said McAuley. “Girls in Gear will supply the girls with the equipment, all they have to do is show up and it’s a free camp for girls and those who identify as a girl and it’ll be offered at Kingston Fire and Rescue.”
The camp will welcome 30 girls from the Kingston area to the camp, which will be led by eight firefighters from Kingston Fire and Rescue and two from Stone Mills who make up the Women of Fire YGK, which is dedicated to supporting a diverse and inclusive fire service.
The deadline to register is May 8 and can be done online at www.GirlsInGear.ca.
“It’s about empowering women, showing them they can do things that they don’t think they can, networking and making friends,” said McAuley. “It’s a great opportunity.”
Once a field mainly open to men, firefighting has seen an increase in females of late, though they still represent a very small minority. Camps like Girls In Gear are designed to encourage young girls to think about a career they may not have otherwise considered.
“We’re still very much under represented, I think it’s only one per cent,” said McAuley. “This will give the girls a good taste of what they need to be to make themselves a candidate.”