The Blandford-Blenheim Fire Department will be hosting an information night for this year’s Camp 85 at the Plattsville Fire Station on Thursday, April 3, 2025.
Drew Davidson, Director of Fire and Protective Services, said the program was designed to give Township youth the opportunity to learn what it’s like to be a firefighter.
“This is the program’s third year now and it started out as a camp for young ladies in the township, ages 14 to 18, to experience what it’s like to be a firefighter,” he said. “They get to learn some new skills and see that it’s an attainable career opportunity, as well as a great option to volunteer later in life.”
While the first two years of the program were just for young women, Davidson said the department has decided that this year’s camp will be offered to young men, ages 14 to 18, in the township.
The goal going forward is to alternate each year between the boys and girls, allowing them equal opportunities to gain some hands-on experience.
As far as what to expect from the day camp program, Davidson said it will run from Tuesday, July 8, to Saturday, July 12, and that participants will spend a day at each one of the township’s four fire stations (Princeton Fire Station #81, Drumbo Fire Station #82, Plattsville Fire Station #83 and Bright Fire Station #84) before their graduation on Saturday.
“Since we have four fire stations, they’ll each be hosting a day with a different discipline for the kids to learn,” he said. “On day one, we start out at the Plattsville station; when we’re there they’ll be doing a lot of work with hoses, some water relay and ladder climbs, and then they’ll also get to use fire extinguishers as well. They’ll also be split into their platoons that day and that gives them a chance to see how they can come together and start working as a team. The following day we’ll move over to the Bright Station.”
Throughout the run of the camp, the participants will also learn about forcible entries, the Jaws of Life, search and rescue, using radios to communicate and much more.
“Its really a great opportunity to try something they didn’t think they could do, and that’s really what this is all about; we want to be able to empower the youth in our township,” said Davidson.
He added that his favourite part of the program is watching the teens become more confident by the end of the week.
“I know my favourite thing is just seeing how far they’ve come together, seeing them demonstrate the skills to their parents at the end of the week and cheering each other on… it’s pretty incredible,” said Davidson. “Following that, my second favourite part is that we’ve actually had some of our participants from previous years reach out and say, ‘I want to help, can I be part of this again? what can I do?’ because they want to see the program keep going as well. That’s always pretty awesome.”
He also said that none of this would be possible without the help of the firefighters who take time off work to volunteer their time to run the camp.
As far as what to expect from the information night, Davidson explained that there will be plenty of opportunities to learn more about the camp and ask any questions the youth may have.
”I’ll have about a 15 minute PowerPoint presentation going over how the camp started, what we’re all about, what we expect and what the days entail,” he said. “We’ll have some different stations set up where they can put on the fire gear and see what that’s like, we’ll have past participants there as well so the kids can ask questions and we’ll also have a couple stations set up where they can actually use the Jaws of Life and just get excited about the camp.
He also said that the information night will be the only evening to get an application and sign up.
“If they’re interested in the camp, they have to come and show initiative and show that they want to be there,” said Davidson. “The application isn’t online or anywhere else so that’s the only evening to get the application.”
For those interested in attending the information session, it will be held on Thursday, April 3 at 6:30 p.m. at the Plattsville Station (112 Albert St. E, Plattsville).
If there are any questions in regards to the night, please call 519-463-5347 ext. 7432, or email mvanwyk@blandfordblenehim.ca
Kimberly De Jong’s reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative.The funding allows her to report rural and agricultural stories from Blandford-Blenheim and Brant County. Reach her at kimberly.dejong@brantbeacon.ca.
