Camp Fury Hampton

Last week, a group of 21 go-getter Girl Scouts took part in Camp Fury Hampton, a summer camp hosted by Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast and City of Hampton Division of Fire & Rescue to introduce girls to nontraditional careers for women, including firefighting, and provide them with experiences to try new things, develop teamwork skills and build self-confidence.

After a brief orientation, girls got started with firefighter training first thing on Monday morning. At Hampton Fire Station 9, they climbed an aerial ladder on a fire truck, rappelled four stories down a training tower, took part in fire extinguisher training and competed in a bucket brigade challenge. The following day of camp was also full of firefighting activities, from learning how to tie knots to how to carry ladders. They also took part in CPR training, watched a vehicle extrication demonstration and learned how to use a self-contained breathing apparatus. Highlights of the week included touring the Nightingale helicopter, taking a boat ride with the City of Hampton Division of Fire & Rescue and staying overnight at Hampton fire station.

In addition to learning about firefighting, girls at Camp Fury spent a day with the Hampton Police Department, where they learned about forensics, internet safety, defensive tactics and homeland security. They also watched a demonstration by the K-9 unit.

“This was our fourth year doing Camp Fury in Hampton, and all of the girls who participate get an experience of a lifetime,” Jami Salvio, medic firefighter with Hampton Division of Fire & Rescue and one of the lead organizers of Camp Fury, said. “I hope that Camp Fury taught them courage, confidence, character, respect and teamwork. Whatever they decide to do, I hope that they always believe that they can do anything they put their minds to.”

The concept of Camp Fury originated in Arizona and was brought to the Hampton Roads region by Medic Firefighter Salvio and Lt. Denee Nichols of Hampton Division of Fire & Rescue. Since the inception of Camp Fury Hampton, Medic Firefighter Salvio and Lt. Nichols have helped fellow female firefighters start Camp Fury Chesapeake and Camp Fury Norfolk.

Camp Fury is designed to immerse girls in a supportive, all-girl environment where they can develop leadership skills and confidence as they embrace the unfamiliar, take risks and discover what they are capable of.