Youth Outreach Academy
Vancouver Fire & Rescue Services introduced the Youth Outreach Academy in 2010 to give Vancouver school Students in grades 10 through12 the opportunity to experience what it's like to be a Vancouver fire fighter. Since our first Academy, 76 students have graduated the Academy and they continue to stay involved by participating in departmental Volunteer and fund raising events.
See exactly what our Youth Academy Students do during their 5 days of training with us by following their progress on the Youth Outreach Academy Diary.
The five day non-residential program covers hose operations, self contained breathing apparatus use, search and rescue and firefighting operations. In addition to the fire related skills the students are also taught life saving CPR skills and the safe use of portable fire extinguishers - skills which they will take with them to the workforce and the home environment. Days typically run from 7:00am to 5pm and those attending are expected to arrive on time and ready to begin the days activities.
The Academy also stresses the importance of voluntary work within the community, and each Academy takes part in an event to raise money for a charitable organisation. Since the Academies began, the students have raised a combined total of almost nine thousand dollars.
The monies raised have assisted community based projects within the City of Vancouver, British Columbia as a whole and in 2011, the Earthquake and Tsunami relief efforts of the Canadian Red Cross in Japan. 2012 saw the Academy Students raise money for the BC Professional Fire fighters Burn Fund.
Interested students must be recommended by their School for consideration and must also complete and submit a simple application form to apply for a place on the Academy. There is no cost to the student – but they must commit to complete all five days of the Academy to receive their graduation and life saving certificates.
Applications from both male and female students are encouraged, and when applications are being considered, the forms will be found below; these must be completed and submitted in accordance with the instructions and closing date stated on the application forms.
The application period for the 2012 Youth Outreach Academy is now closed.
Thank you for your interest - check back often for updates!
Sponsorship of this program generously provided by:
Photos
To submit an application or for further information please contact:
Public Relations & Education
Vancouver Fire & Rescue Services
900 Heatley Avenue
Vancouver BC
V6A 3S7
Tel: 604 665 6011
Fax: 604 665 6024
youth.academy@vancouver.ca