Summer boredom wasn’t in the picture for 20 4th-8th grade students in rural Angels Camp as they were offered the opportunity to attend a two-week Career Technical Fire Camp, created by Bret Harte Union High School District in partnership with Mark Twain Union Elementary School District.

The program, funded in large part by the elementary programs’ Expanded Learning Opportunity Program funds, was led by Chief John Parks, a retired firefighter turned CTE instructor.

The camp was particularly empowering as many of the students residing in Calaveras County had the frightening experience of being evacuated from the raging Aero Fire just over a year ago.

The junior campers participated in hose and ladder drills, learned first aid and CPR, participated in an auto extrication, water rescue drills, and even enjoyed a field trip to the Columbia Air Base to tour and enter a Cal Fire plane. The event culminated with a graduation ceremony for the campers and their families complete with a firehouse barbecue.