Registration Opens March 17 for Blaze & Blue Career Camp for Young Women
Back for its fourth year, the Ann Arbor Fire and Police departments will host Blaze & Blue Career Camp — a free, four-day program in July for local young women ages 15–18 years old. Participants will experience the most challenging and exciting hands-on tasks in firefighting, first response and law enforcement, all in a supportive environment.
Registration opens at 10 a.m. Monday, March 17. Space is limited, and this camp has filled quickly in previous years. The online signup form will be posted when registration opens, at https://aapd.a2gov.org/2025BlazeandBlue. Priority will be given to city of Ann Arbor residents, followed by residents of other Washtenaw County communities.
The career camp will take place 8 a.m.–3 p.m. Monday, July 7–Thursday, July 10; full attendance at all four days is expected. Participants will train with Ann Arbor firefighters and Ann Arbor police, interacting with women who are first-responder professionals and are rising above barriers and stereotypes. Emphasis is placed on an encouraging, educational, hands-on and interactive environment. Lunch is included daily, and participants will receive a complimentary Blaze & Blue t-shirt.
The camp offers a unique, insider view of what it’s like to work in police and fire services, with hopes of inspiring young women to pursue these career paths. For 2024 camp participants, the experience has done just that.
Arianna, age 15, has wanted to be a firefighter since she was 3. “Blaze & Blue Camp has definitely influenced my goals to be a first responder,” she said. “I got to see more of the adventures and behind the scenes of these careers, and … it inspired me more to follow my dream.” Arianna said her favorite part of Blaze & Blue Career Camp was making unforgettable bonds and memories with the other campers and going on the K-9 track.
This wasn’t the first camp of this kind 19-year-old Grace has attended, and she especially appreciated the hands-on and role-play experiences Blaze & Blue Career Camp provided. Grace noted, “[The program] builds a decent base for those interested and gives you tons of connections for support! It has inspired me and many others that attended last year."
For 16-year-old Haidyn, Blaze & Blue Career Camp was an opportunity to explore firefighting and with other young women who share this career goal. "Going into it," she said, "I was pretty nervous because I wasn’t going to know anyone, and it surprised me how comfortable I was with getting to know the firefighters, the other campers and the fire station."
Past camper, Lila, further endorsed Blaze & Blue Career Camp, noting, "It was a great experience for any woman interested in being a first responder or even just a week of fun and exciting activities. Everyone is so nice and helpful, and you will have a great time!"
Blaze & Blue Career Camp activities include:
Fire extinguisher training, vehicle extrication, 100-foot aerial platform rides and rappelling
Patrol scenarios, crime scene investigation, mugshots and fingerprints and a day-in-the-life station tour
“The camp is a great way to get young women thinking about careers that are not often a popular path for women,” said Ann Arbor Police Officer Kasey Whitford, adding the hands-on camp activities also show the various and fulfilling aspects of being a police officer or firefighter. “Not only do the young women get to complete hands-on activities, they also get to have fun, engage with women who are currently in policing and hear our stories. Each year the camp gets better, and I am looking forward to it again this year!”
Ann Arbor Firefighter Tracey McCoy also emphasizes the powerful impact Blaze & Blue can have on participants’ career goals. “This camp is a great way for girls in the area to step in to a career environment they might not have seen as an option for them,” she said. “Learning and interacting with real first responders they can see as their future selves just fosters a deeper connection. Ultimately, campers are learning about themselves and their strengths, they just happen to be learning while doing cool first responder activities!”
The camp will conclude with a certificate presentation ceremony.
Registration for 2025 Blaze & Blue Career Camp starts at 10 a.m. Monday, March 17, at https://aapd.a2gov.org/2025BlazeandBlue. Questions may be emailed to cjackson@a2gov.org.
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Media Contact
Chantel Jackson, Ann Arbor Fire Department Office Manager, 734.794.6961, ext. 49000 | cjackson@a2gov.org