FAQs
Is There a Need For Camp Courage?
Females make up greater than 50% of our population in the Halifax Regional Municipality, yet female responders make up only a small percentage of the work force and less than 4% of our career firefighters. The low representation of females in these careers leads young women to believe that only a rare few females are suited to this type of career therefore discouraging them from pursuing a rewarding career in the emergency services. Camp Courage is an important step to provide young women with the vision to see opportunities and the tools to make a difference in their community.
What Are The Benefits of Camp Courage?
The camp will generate a larger, more informed, better prepared female applicant pool. The emergency services will benefit from a more diverse work force that reflects the community it serves. Collaborative efforts towards a positive initiative will only serve to strengthen the bond among responders through building greater appreciation, respect and understanding of the other professions.
What is so Unique about Camp Courage?
This camp is the only camp of its kind, while camps exist for police and fire services, none combine all three professions. Candidates with diverse interest’s benefit from a comparative experience of each discipline to help them make a more educated decision. In addition the campers gain a better understanding of how all three services work together as a team during an emergency.
Why the Name Camp Courage?
Obviously to become a Paramedic, Police Officer or Firefighter you need to have a special kind of courage. In addition to that special kind of courage, the camp refers to everyday courage. The courage to make the hard right over the easy wrong; the courage to stand up for yourself; the courage to believe in yourself; the courage to dream the biggest, most fantastic dreams because if you can believe it, you can achieve it.
How Does Someone Get Accepted Into Camp Courage?
The camp is 100% free. In order to be accepted into camp the candidate must write an essay on one of two topics. The first is how they can improve someone else’s life that is less fortunate. The second is how they can improve their community. Instead of paying cash they have to do what they say in their essay, the only limitation is their imagination. Writing an essay instead of paying cash allows equal access regardless of economic status. It’s also aligned with the main objectives of the emergency services to help people and their communities. It illustrates how hard work creates opportunities, It shows them to be thankful for what they have and to respect others that have less, It teaches the value of helping others. In addition it makes them feel better about themselves