Press Releases
09/01/2021
Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection Teams up with Girls Future Firefighter Camp 2021
Three divisions within the Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP) teamed up and helped host the 6th annual Girl's Future Firefighter Camp (GFFC) this past weekend. The Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (DEMHS), Connecticut State Police, and Connecticut Fire Academy (CFA) partnered together with the GFFC to introduce young ladies, ages 13-18, to a career in public safety. The Girl's Future Firefighter Camp (GFFC) is a training program that focuses on empowering young ladies to think outside the box. GFFC opens young ladies minds and help them venture into the careers of public service. This year's camp was hosted by New Britain Fire Department.
"The goal is to just open their minds," Shelly Carter, Operations Manager with the Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, and founder of the event said. "To have something that will open their minds to think outside of the box of the 'girl jobs.'" Carter, formerly with the Hartford Fire Department and recently retiring at the rank of Captain, founded the Girls Future Firefighter Camp in 2015. This camp, being the first of its kind in the State of Connecticut, is an interactive camp for girls ages 13-18 to experience first-hand a career in public safety. GFFC certifies young women in CPR, AED, and babysitting through the American Red Cross.
The camp runs as a four-week camp held every Friday, designed to inspire young teenage girls to consider jobs in public service. This year, organizers changed the schedule and held camp on three Friday evenings, and two all day sessions on Saturday and Sunday. A few examples of the training sessions that GFFC offers includes:
- Fire apparatus familiarization
- Physical fitness
- CPR certification
- Fire prevention education
- Fire investigation skills
- Emergency dispatch, and,
- Report writing
This past Saturday, camp attendees received Emergency Management preparedness and response training from DESPP Deputy Commissioner Regina Rush-Kittle and Carter, as well as a presentation, including a cruiser display and K-9 Bomb Squad demonstration, from the Connecticut State Police. The Connecticut Fire Academy provided donations for campers.
“The sky is the limit for these young ladies. They’re going to learn some major life skills and it’s real important for me to make sure they understand they are so capable and no one can tell them no,” said Shelly Carter, who volunteers her own time to organize and run this camp.
For Immediate Release: August 31, 2021
Contact: Shelly Carter
Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection
Division of Emergency Management & Homeland Security
Contact: Ian Alexander
Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection
Division of Emergency Management & Homeland Security