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New camp trains young women to become first responders

A new immersive camp put on by the Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri is hoping to inspire the next generation of first responders.

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By
Alexis Zotos
ST. LOUIS, MO — A new immersive camp put on by the Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri is hoping to inspire the next generation of first responders.

The statistics are surprising. Nationwide, only 4.6 percent of firefighters are women and women make up 20 percent of law enforcement. Camp Fury hopes to change that.

The week-long camp is the first of its kind in the Midwest, and for 16 young women, they get hands on experience learning from women in their field.

"They're already way ahead than I was at their age, and it makes me excited for our future," said St. Charles County Police Officer Courtney Spiess.

Officer Spiess and her K-9 officer Tank are teaching the girls about tracking and narcotics detection. But she's also teaching them that no matter how intimidating it can be to be a woman in a male dominated field, it's doable.

"Keep empowering each other, keep rising up and pushing each other to be better," she said.

That's a message Jen Bosche is taking to heart.

"To me, being a paramedic is something I've always wanted to be," said Bosche, a sophomore at Marquette High School. "I think in the end, yeah its intimidating with so many men, but with this camp we can fix that."

This is the first year for Camp Fury but Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri says it will be coming back next year.

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