Pocono News Section

Kids Learn Valuable Skills at Camp

Kids Learn Valuable Skills at Camp - Thursday, July 10, 2008 at 4:23PM EST

Reported by: Jeremy Deebel
Thursday, Jul 10, 2008 @ 04:23pm EST
WILLIAMSPORT, LYCOMING COUNTY- About two dozen 12 and 13 year olds are getting hands-on experience into the work of firefighters and emergency services personnel this week. It's all in an effort to build up their interests in volunteering for those crucial jobs.
At the Lycoming County Fire, Rescue and EMS Summer Day Camp, they're learning valuable skills like rope and vehicle rescues, firefighting, how to perform CPR, and plenty more. Twelve-year-old Ryan Seagrave said, "We are going on firetrucks, looking through the firetrucks, and getting to spray the hoses, spray out some fires."
Williamsport Bureau of Fire Platoon Chief Jeff Cole noted, "They see the latest technology in the fire service today and they get an understanding of what our operations are out on the fire drill."
This is the camp's first year. It's run by several fire and EMS agencies within Lycoming County. Plenty of safety precautions are taken because of the children's age, but it's that youthful desire to learn that the people in charge here are counting on.
With the number of new fire and EMS personnel seemingly dwindling every year, the organizers of this camp are hoping to inspire enthusiasm in a younger generation. Cole explained, "What we're trying to do is get our youth more interested in it so eventually they enter into a junior fireman program and then into a senior firefighter."
The kids seem to be getting the message, and certainly enjoying their time here. Molly Harris said, "It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Everyone here is really friendly, and it's just a really good camp."
Organizers say they hope to add more training events and larger groups of children in the coming years.