Strathmore Fire Department gearing up for youth summer camps

By Christine Foshaug Times Contributor

With summer in full swing, the Strathmore Fire Department is getting ready for its second annual youth summer camps. This year the camps will be split into two different age groups.
The first session, for children aged 9-11, will take place July 23-26 and all spots have been filled. The second session, for 12-14-year-olds, is scheduled for Aug. 20-23 and has a few spots remaining.
Last year’s camps exceeded capacity, so registration this year has been capped at 25.
The four-day camps, held at the fire hall, will be jam-packed with a good mix of fun activities and education about safety and protective services. It takes three full-time firefighters and seven or eight volunteers to run the camps.
Participants will learn basic first aid, how to tie knots and work with ropes, and each day will start with 30 minutes of physical fitness. A town councillor will give a speech on citizenship and municipal enforcement officers will teach bike safety.
There will also be a water safety component. Pool activities will teach personal safety, and instructors will take the children on a boat ride to teach them about water rescue.
“These summer camps are basically an outreach program to get kids involved in the community and learn valuable safety skills,” said Captain Eric Alexander.
There are no prerequisites for the camp. All the kids need is an interest in safety and a desire to learn important skills they’ll be able to use in their everyday lives. Some activities will involve teamwork, so participants will have a chance to improve their communication and decision-making skills.
“The camps give the fire department an opportunity to get engaged with youth and promote life skills and fire safety,” added Alexander. “The main goal for these camps is for the kids to get away from technology and have fun while they learn in a safe environment.”
The registration fee is $100 and includes lunch, snacks, a T-shirt and a water bottle. The camps will wrap up with a family barbecue and awards presentation on the last day.
For more information or to register, call 403-934-3022.