Chambana Sun

Women from police and fire departments across Champaign County collaborated to host the third annual Camp Fury, a program led by the Girl Scouts of Central Illinois. The event took place from July 21 through July 24 and offered young women a hands-on introduction to careers in emergency services.

Camp Fury is designed as an immersive experience, alternating between police and fire activities. Participants spent time at several facilities, including the Urbana Fire Department, Champaign Police Department, Illinois Fire Science Institute, and Illinois Law Enforcement Alarm System (ILEAS) training sites. The program also included a tour of METCAD, where campers learned about the role of dispatchers as the initial point of contact for first responders. Additional demonstrations were provided by the Champaign County Coroner’s Office, Air Life, and Arrow Ambulance.

Coordination for Camp Fury from the City of Champaign was handled by Lt. Kaitlin Fisher of the Champaign Police Department and Fire Engineer Whitney Stewart of the Champaign Fire Department. They worked alongside female leaders from their own agencies as well as nearly a dozen other local organizations involved in emergency response. Deputy City Manager Nancy Rabel addressed attendees as keynote speaker during the camp’s graduation ceremony.

"Camp Fury is a high-adventure, hands-on experience that immerses young women in the world of fire and police services. It is designed to show them the tools and talents necessary to succeed in a career as a first responder in service to their communities."

They are joined by female leaders from our ranks and nearly a dozen other area agencies who work every day as first responders in our region. Additionally, Deputy City Manager Nancy Rabel served as the keynote speaker at the graduation event.