TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) — From CPR training to learning how to rappel from a building, the Girl Scouts of Southern Arizona are learning all things public safety this week. The annual Camp Fury began Tuesday, May 30, bringing together scouts from Tucson and across the country.
"Our goal here at camp fury is to increase the number of women in the public safety service, specifically in law enforcement and fire," Anika Payton-Rodriguez, one of Tucson firefighters at camp, said.
About 25 girls will stay at the camp with each day packed with different activities.
"I felt like the best version of myself when I was at this camp," Rowynn Whyte, one of the campers, said. "I had a really good time doing the activities like the fire stuff. But what drew me to come back was that I felt so good during and after the camp that I wanted to come back."
Wednesday, May 31
Day 2 of the Girl Scouts' Camp Fury is bringing the campers a real-world skill most of us will never experience first hand: Crime scene investigation.
Each day, the camp focuses on a new area of public safety.
"It's a really great opportunity to have these young women to come out and get some one on one time with us, and see that there are female officers and female firefighters out there," Deputy Virginia Howard of the Pima County Sheriff's Department told KGUN 9.
Instructors for the programs are all women who work in public safety, including retired Tubac Fire Chief Cheryl Horvath.
Thursday, June 1
On the third day of Camp Fury, the Girl Scouts learning how to rappel down a building, and climb a fire truck ladder.
"I love being out here and seeing the girls. The best part is they're all a little bit nervous before the big descent," Payton-Rodriguez told me. "But by the end they're all excited and they can't believe they did it and they have all this courage now."
With these skills, the annual girls' leadership training event seeks to level the playing field so the young women may eventually join the ranks of firefighters and law enforcement personnel so they can play a vital role in bringing public safety for our communities.
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Tina Giuliano is a reporter for KGUN 9. She is a native Arizonan and grew up in Scottsdale. Tina is passionate about storytelling and is excited to work telling Tucson's stories. Share your story ideas and important issues with Tina by emailing tina.giuliano@kgun9.com or by connecting on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
