Final Week to Apply for Camp Molly Zorra

Tuesday, 25 April 2023 16:35

The four-day camp gives young women aged 15-18 the opportunity to explore fire and emergency service careers.

TOWNSHIP OF ZORRA – The Township of Zorra is getting ready to host Oxford County’s very first Camp Molly!

The camp will take place at the Thamesford Fire Station from June 1st to June 4th; registration is open online until May 1st.

The four-day camp gives young women aged 15-18 the opportunity to explore fire and emergency service careers. Participants will have the chance for hands-on training through activities based on Level 1 Firefighter training.

Some of the topics covered will include Fire Investigation, Medical Scenarios, Auto Extrication and Firefighter Survival. The purpose of Camp Molly is to challenge, empower, and change the way young women see themselves.

Fire Chief Deanne Kirwin explains how the camp was created to help build woman confidence and moral in a mostly male dominated field.

“The idea and morals behind it is to be prepared to be challenged, be prepared to be empowered and be prepared to change the way you see yourself. The camp is named after Molly Williams who was the first female firefighter on record.”

Kirwin added that they are hoping to expand the program to other parts of North America in the coming years.

"Our hope was to run five or six this year, we didn't expect eight. We've still had to turn so many people away unfortunately. They will be run at fire departments all over Ontario, and we've had some interest at a Military Base in Germany. We are also presenting across the border in New York next month. Our hope is that it goes broader than Ontario in time to come. We are really doing the work this year to make sure it is saleable into a package that can be picked up by any chief in any department, so they have the tools to roll it out to their communities."

The camp is named after Molly Williams. Molly was enslaved in 1818. It is said that she was accepted as "one of the boys" at Oceanus Engine Co. 11, and even rightfully earned the title Volunteer Number 11. Visit here to learn more about Molly's story.