This weekend will be like none other for Rylyn Wickham.
The 17-year-old Barrie resident plans to take in all she can during the first-ever Camp Molly in Barrie, a four-day event that gives those who identify as female — from ages 15 to 18 and interested in working in the fire service — a hands-on and inside look.
“Personally, gathering a better understanding of the physical strength required and acquiring the knowledge of situations and circumstances faced daily for this specific career is something I look forward to,” says Wickham, a Grade 12 student at Eastview Secondary School.
Wickham sees it as an opportunity for personal growth and skill development, as well as a chance to meet new people, develop social skills and make new friends.
But she’s also looking forward to taking a good look under the hood of Barrie’s fire service.
This is Barrie’s first year running Camp Molly, which was first established in Halton Region in 2019 by volunteers. It now operates in several Ontario communities.
And clearly there was interest.
While 36 applicants were accepted, there wasn’t enough space for another 20 who wanted to attend and placed on a wait list.
“It’s really to give them a peek behind the curtain on what it’s like to work in the fire service,” says Kate Foster, public educator with Barrie Fire and Emergency Service. “They are learning all the possible opportunities in the fire service.”
They are getting hands-on experience in the basic role of fire suppression and reactive firefighting, as well as related skills such as rescue, auto extraction, forcible entry, firefighter survival, medical response and fire investigations.
The participating youth are also learning about prevention, investigation, communication and the education stream – all aspects now deemed of importance in the fire service.
The point is to encourage expanding the demographics of the fire service, which had been a male-dominated occupation, to better reflect the community it serves, Foster says.
The camp is being held at the fire department’s Saunders Road training ground, the Barrie-Simcoe Emergency Services Campus on Fairview Road and wraps up at the Station One headquarters on Dunlop Street West with graduation on the final day.
The fire service reflects a current employment trend which sees more movement between related disciplines. Foster, for example, started working with the city as a recreation programmer 22 years ago, shifting into the corporate side of the city.
Two years ago, she joined Barrie Fire.
“Career paths don’t always have to be linear,” says Foster. “I was lucky to find out that my skills were applicable to the fire service.”
Being a member of the fire service, she says, allows her to combine her goals and passions. Foster tells those exploring different careers to never discount the value of learning new skills, staying committed and being focused.
The fire department, for instance, is made up of different disciplines which require mixed skill sets. The firefighting aspect of the job has also changed over the years. Given the increased use of flammable material now common in households, there is less time to react to flames.
Through Camp Molly, Wickham is exploring future opportunities – she sees herself helping others by serving in the community after high school. She's also participating in a mental health and wellness program designed for high school students interested in pursuing a career in mental health and wellness.
“I’m excited to attend and truly believe this is a wonderful opportunity,” she says of Camp Molly.
