A novel way to spend spring break: Youth Wildland Fire Career Camp to debut in Central Oregon
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – Discover Your Northwest has announced the inaugural Youth Wildland Fire Career Camp, a free, multi-day program designed to introduce youth ages 16-20 to the exciting and diverse world of wildland fire careers.
"This unique day camp offers a hands-on learning experience during Oregon's spring break, taking place from Wednesday, March 25, to Saturday, March 28, based out of Redmond. Daily programming will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with lunch and transportation from local communities provided, "the organization said in a recent news release that continues in full below:
Participants will explore various wildland fire careers through interactive activities, engaging field trips, and insightful discussions with experienced wildland fire professionals.
They will get a taste of the action with hands-on activities covering topics such as fire behavior, fuels management, public information, aviation, dispatch, leadership, fire ecology, prevention, and firefighting methods, all led by local wildland fire professionals.
The goals of this camp are to provide an immersive introduction to wildland fire careers in a safe and supportive environment, make connections to inspiring leaders, and help campers develop valuable relationships within the wildland fire community.
"This camp offers a fantastic opportunity for young people to explore the diverse career paths available in wildland fire beyond boots-on-the-ground firefighting," says Emily Curtis, wildland fire community educator at Discover Your Northwest. "We're committed to fostering career development within the fire service, and this program is a crucial step in empowering the next generation of firefighters."
All skill levels are welcome! This program is designed to ignite a passion for wildland fire, regardless of prior experience.
Applications for the Youth Wildland Fire Career Camp are now open! Visit https://bit.ly/45sL70E to apply and secure your spot.
For more information, please contact Emily Curtis, Discover Your Northwest’s wildland fire community educator, at emily.curtis@discovernw.org.
About Discover Your Northwest
Discover Your Northwest is a Seattle-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, EIN 91-0921955, dedicated to connecting people with public lands through education, retail operations, and strategic partnerships. Founded in 1974, DYNW works across Washington, Oregon, northern California, Idaho, and Montana to support public lands by funding educational programs, strengthening community connections, and reinvesting proceeds into the places and partners that make these experiences possible. Learn more at DYNW.org.
