Back Again: Camp Fury
Sixteen adventurous teenage Girl Scouts spent a week in June at Camp Fury Norfolk, a camp co-sponsored by Norfolk Fire and Rescue and Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast (GSCCC). Originally founded in 2009 by Girl Scouts in Tucson, Arizona, Camp Fury has since expanded its reach; GSCCC now offers these summer firefighting camps in the cities of Chesapeake, Hampton, and Norfolk. The Norfolk program celebrated its ninth year this season!
Each Camp Fury program provides girls with the chance to observe and learn from women professionals in fire safety, law enforcement, and emergency fields. The week-long camp provides hands-on, skill-building activities in fire safety, emergency response, CPR and first aid, forcible entry and rappelling.
“I’m happy to be back here again” said Amiyah S., a Girl Scout Cadette from Norfolk-based Troop 40 who has participated in Camp Fury for the last three years. “We get to rappel off of a 50-foot building. Here, I get to experience something new that you don’t see on a daily basis.”
Norfolk Firefighter and Paramedic R. Owens assists Girl Scout Amiyah in rappelling
Girl Scout Olivia surveys the airfield from the tower at Naval Air Station Oceana
The Camp Fury Norfolk class of 2024 poses in front of the Oshkosh Striker 3000
The week’s highlight for many was on day two, when the group traveled on the Norfolk Fire and EMS Academy bus to Naval Air Station Oceana and the NCIS Norfolk Field Office, where they met with Firefighter AEMT Erin Virnelson and Battalion Chief of Training Laura Arrington who gave them a tour of the Fire and EMS vehicles, including a top-of-the-line, airport-aircraft firefighting vehicle called the Oshkosh Striker 3000. A demonstration of a military service dog at work, offered by Officer Marcou, followed the tour. Xxaxu, a Belgian Malinois, demonstrated skills in seek, search and rescue, impressing everyone and winning over all campers’ hearts.
Leaving Xxaxu behind, the campers walked to the base’s observation tower where they were able to get a panoramic view of the airfield. Two air traffic controllers, Officer Benekee and Officer Austin, toured them through the air traffic control room and explained operations.
There was a short lunch break before their next stop to spend some time with Special Agent Claire Kelly at the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) Field Office. There, they were assigned to groups and participated in four activities organized by Agent Kelly: defense tactics, polygraph testing, forensics, and an electronics detection dog demonstration.
Firefighter Nicole Collins, who organized and coordinated the week in collaboration with GSCCC’s program team, said, “The day turned out as expected, amazing! We’re so happy to be able to offer this type of program to these young leaders. By exposing girls to situations that they may not be totally comfortable with, they’re able to make decisions for themselves and see the results of those choices. It might seem scary at first, but by the end, they’re so proud. I know today was very special, but the girls are excited for Friday to come when they will rappel down a building and conclude the camp with a graduation ceremony, receiving an honorary certificate of completion.”
You can see more photos from the week on our Facebook page.
