 When I first thought about coming to this camp, I was thinking that it would be boring and like every other camp But as soon as I got here, you've realized that it's actually quite the best experience that you could have This weekend we had the 16 and 17 year old youth members camp Which is really aimed at increasing our engagement with those coming from juniors into that 16 and 17 year old age group And really trying to engage with them Finding out what skills they have and increasing the participation of our brigades All the young people or our young members, 16 and 17 year olds arrived on Friday night with the leaders Just that team building, getting to go out of our comfort zone, see what is comfortable to our members out there Following on from that obviously on Saturday we're at Vimtech at Central Highlands Where we did numerous activities with volunteer instructors and the pad operators Anything ranging from fire extinguishers all the way through to the gas props, running fuel fire Virtual reality as well there, just to increase the engagement of our younger people They have some amazing skills out there just being able to watch the networking and the relationship Develop between those 16 and 17 year old cohort From our big structural brigades through to the small bush fire brigades that don't have many call-outs It was also great to see Acting Chief Officer Gary Cook was also there Wearing breathing apparatus with some of our younger members of actually crawling on the ground with those So it was fantastic to be able to have that opportunity for our younger members To be able to build the skills, relationship and having that Acting Chief Officer there was great Also Natalie McDonald also participating in the end of the activity With all the cadets being involved in two different groups with the running fuel fire So just having the Chief Executive Officer of CFA, the Acting Chief Officer as well It was great to see and enhance those relationships even more The final drill of the day there actually involved our pad operators, instructors and the chef-browns As well there being able to show off some of their skills or maybe even lack of skills there To our young members there so they got a bit of indication of what was going to happen with them They were further divided up into two different groups there Being able to utilize those skills that actually learned of hose bowling Extinguisher work, breathing apparatus, numerous things But being able to work as a team and it was very much working as a team And developing those relationships even further that they'd had between Those structural brigades that members had come from All the smaller brigades as well and utilizing and learning from each other On the Sunday it was absolutely great there We did a lot more team building activities So we did anything from orientation through to the giant swing Which was quite amazing and then also bike riding as well So it was just amazing to see our younger members that 16, 17 year old age group Even increase their skills, our relationships even further And being able to share that networking When juniors were turning 16 we'd seen a lot of drop-off between 16 and 17 year olds So to engage them and keep them engaged in the CFA and the activities So youth program was introduced also known as carrot program A highlight for me this weekend was the smoke room Where we get to go into a room full of smoke and use the thermal imaging cameras I really enjoyed it because it heightened every single one of my senses other than the site A highlight for me this weekend was definitely going to VemTech I loved working with our team and putting out fires There's something completely different than new A highlight for me this weekend was definitely getting the opportunity to go to VemTech Which we don't often get And I really love being able to put BA on and experience you know walking around Moving going through you know a fake house with that and the big swing was really good too A highlight for me this weekend was going to VemTech And we went and experienced BA through a simulated house And we went and learned how to use the ticks inside of a structure A highlight was hanging out with mates at VemTech Getting to expand on our boundaries and explore how far our boundaries were actually pushed Doing things such as the BA rooms, the ticks and playing on the gas pads After coming on last year's camp being here to be able to see all those old friends As well as meeting new people was really enjoyable Just to be able to make those connections and have a good time with everybody Here at this camp you're working with people very similar age to you It's very different to what you may experience at your own brigade being Probably the only person or if not the only person Very small amount of people at your age and you're very confused on what to do And can be very overwhelming here you are surrounded by people your own age And it's much more comfortable because you're very very similar skill set to everyone else My highlight has absolutely been seeing all of the young people get together And especially those that didn't start off knowing each other Throughout the course of the camp and the activities they all came together And really supported each other especially at VemTech Seeing them all in operational drills and activities Really supporting each other through activities That they may be outside of their comfort zone And really seeing them grow as people and full-fledged members of CFA If you're thinking about coming to the camp I would highly recommend it It's great fun you get to do pretty much everything with live fire And the new friendships and things you can form is just amazing