Summer camp shows kids what it’s like to be a first responder
NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) - If you ask a kid what they want to be when they grow up, they may say a firefighter or a police officer.
Now, for the first time, one fire department is hosting a two-week-long camp to expose kids to what it’s like being a first responder.
It’s a new hands-on camp for kids this summer.
“It’s been going good. Everybody seems excited and ready to learn,” said firefighter Eli Presnell.
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The Merriwether Fire Department came together with South Carolina DNR, South Carolina Forestry Commission, Edgefield County Sheriff’s Office, EMS Augusta Regional Airport Fire Department and Air Care to put on a two-week camp showing kids what it’s like to be a first responder.
Firefighter Brandon Dandy said: “Recruitment and retention is something that a lot of agencies have started working on, trying to get people in the door and trying to keep people with us. So we figured if we can start getting them while they’re young, getting them involved piquing their interest more than just showing up to the school and putting our gear on, showing the trucks. Let them actually be hands-on, it’d be a lot more beneficial.”
It’s allowing kids to see what it would be like to have a job that helps people in our community.
“The fire service is very short. So hopefully this has sparked their interest in wanting to come and become a firefighter when they get of age,” said Presnell.
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Kids are getting to do all kinds of activities like trying on gear, spraying the hose, and more, which also includes being hands-on with the other departments.
And to end the camp, they will even spend 24 hours at the firehouse.
“They’ll be here, those two days, full time. They’ll get to see pretty much everything. What we do at night when we have new calls, what we do during the day when we’re training,” said Presnell.
Showing us what it’s like to be in their shoes every day.
The Merriwether Fire Department says they plan on hosting the camp again next year and making it even bigger than this year.
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