Young Women’s Wildland Fire Career Camp to debut in Central Oregon next Spring Break

 BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Discover Your Forest, in partnership with the Deschutes National Forest, is thrilled to announce the inaugural Young Women's Wildland Fire Career Camp, a free, multi-day program designed to introduce young women and non-binary folks 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 26, to Saturday, March 29, 2025, based out of Redmond.

Participants will explore various wildland fire careers through interactive activities, engaging field trips, and insightful discussions with experienced female fire professionals. They will get a taste of the action with hands-on activities covering topics such as fire ecology, fire behavior, fuels management, leadership, prevention, and suppression (firefighting) methods all led by female 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 female leaders, and help campers develop valuable relationships within the wildland fire community. Participants who complete the camp will receive a $250 educational stipend thanks to funding from the Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council (COIC).

"This camp offers a fantastic opportunity for young women to explore the diverse career paths available in wildland fire," says Emily Curtis, Wildland Fire Education Coordinator at Discover Your Forest. "We're committed to fostering diversity and inclusion within the fire service, and this program is a crucial step in empowering the next generation of female firefighters."

All skill levels are welcome! This program is designed to ignite a passion for wildland fire, regardless of prior experience.

Applications for the Young Women's Wildland Fire Career Camp are now open! Visit http://bit.ly/3ZupSrA to apply and secure your spot.

For more information, please contact Emily Curtis, Discover Your Forest’s Wildland Fire Education Coordinator, at emily.curtis@discovernw.org.

Discover Your Forest is the nonprofit stewardship partner of the Deschutes and Ochoco National Forests and Crooked River National Grassland.  Learn more about their mission at: https://discoveryourforest.org/