Summer camp of the Jena youth fire departments

Breathing apparatus exercises and boat training, as well as a dragon boat trip and rugby game - 27 boys and girls have been experiencing a varied program since Wednesday at the Jena youth fire department summer camp. For the first time since the pandemic, city youth fire brigade warden Robin Altmann-Krause and his deputy Yvonne Beck have once again organized a camp. They are supported by eight youth wardens from the volunteer fire departments.

"The Jena youth fire department's summer camp is a great opportunity for our youngsters to gain valuable experience and immerse themselves in the world of firefighting. It not only promotes the team spirit and social skills of the young participants, but also provides them with important knowledge in the areas of safety and firefighting. It is important for us to support such initiatives and we look forward to seeing the next generation of firefighters grow up thanks to the dedicated instructors and supervisors."

said Safety Officer Benjamin Koppe on site.

For the first time, the young firefighters pitched their tents on the grounds of the Jena University Sports Club (USV). The 6 to 15-year-olds were also able to try out various sports - basketball and stand-up paddling as well as dragon boating and rugby.

"We very much hope that this cooperation can be continued,"

emphasized city youth fire brigade chief Altmann-Krause. The central location is ideal. After all, the boys and girls set off from here every day on firefighting exercises that various volunteer fire departments have prepared for them. The comrades in Göschwitz took over the respiratory protection exercise, the volunteer fire department in Mitte offered an exercise on hazardous materials and there was boat training in Winzerla. This was followed today by an exercise with a drone with the Wöllnitz volunteer fire department.

"The whole thing is not only a meaningful leisure activity, but also very important for us to promote our junior staff and recruit new ones - both for the volunteer fire departments and for the professional fire department,"

said Ralf Hertig, head of the Jena fire department. The tents and beds for the camp were provided by the civil protection service, with additional equipment supplied by the Workers' Samaritan Federation. The camp ends today, Friday afternoon, with a small competition to which parents are also invited to cheer.

The children and young people from eight different youth fire departments were able to make many new friends at the summer camp, according to Altmann-Krause:

"Offers like these help to ensure that cooperation between volunteer fire departments is lived from an early age."