Camp Phoenix girls rise to the challenge!

By Casandra Turnbull

Camp Phoenix wrapped up last month as 19 honorary firefighters graduated from the immersive camp, designed to educate and empower the next generation of female firefighters.

Friends and family gathered at the Cainsville Fire Station on July 28th to watch the Phoenix Fit Challenge as the aspiring firefighters demonstrated some of the skills they learned throughout the five-day camp. They were introduced to ladders, ropes, knots & hoisting, auto extrication, search & rescue, LIVE Fire demonstration & investigation with the OFM, forcible entry, aerial, hydrants & hoses and firefighter survival. The girls walked away from the experience with broader industry knowledge, but they also gained more confidence and made new friends

Camp Phoenix graduate Scarlett Cornwell shared, “I gained some of the best bonds with girls of all different ages It really helped me gain my ability to learn and adapt, applying myself to new skills, motivation, increased selfunderstanding, maturity, independence and selfconfidence ”

Cornwell was impressed with all the instructors who really

2024 Camp Phoenix graduates pictured above. Campers walked away with new-found appreciation for teamwork, endurance and some lifelong friendships. County of Brant Photos demonstrated how to work together as a family, as a team. “Each one of them motivated and helped us through difficult challenges and kept pushing and telling us we can do it. I am so proud to be part of the Camp Phoenix family and look forward to helping in the future ”

It took 14 volunteer firefighter instructors to run the camp, along with special guests from the Ontario Fire Marshall’s Office, who attended to teach fire dynamics and investigation

“This experience has made me so excited to work as hard as I can so I can become a firefighter in the near future,” said Kennedy Sundvall, another graduate

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