When 13 local female students recently went through the first Rescue Heroes Summer Day Camp at Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES, there were many ‘aha’ moments as the students learned about first responder careers.
MaryBeth Napolitano, Herkimer BOCES Rescue Heroes program coordinator, recalled some of those moments from the five-day camp. When state troopers came in with a dog for their canine rescue presentation, Little Falls student Aleyla Dygert said “This is my dream,” and when students visited Ilion firefighter Mary Reece, West Canada Valley student MacKenzie Christiano said “This is what I want to do.”
“And I tell you what: They will do it,” Napolitano said. “This is what this program was for – for that inspirational encouragement that they can do it.”
The Rescue Heroes Summer Day Camp took place from July 24-28 based out of the Herkimer BOCES William E. Busacker Complex in Herkimer. The Herkimer BOCES School to Careers program and the Herkimer County Integrated County Planning initiative coordinated on the camp and received a grant from the state Office of Children and Family Services to make it possible.
The program was open to female students ages 14-17 in school districts in the Herkimer BOCES region and had a goal of exposing students to careers and volunteer work as first responders.
The Rescue Heroes participants were Central Valley students Savannah Abeling (15), Josephine Aney (17), Trinity Aponte (15), Cammie Callahan (16), Aryanna Dicob (14) and Taylor Dicob (17); Dolgeville students Grace Leavitt (14) and Alice Luquis (14); Herkimer student Christiana Leal-Fowler (14); Little Falls student Aleyla Dygert (14); Mount Markham students Payton Dauchy (16) and Taylor Dauchy (14); and West Canada Valley student MacKenzie Christiano (14).
Napolitano, who also is the Herkimer BOCES School to Careers liaison, work-based learning coordinator and Mentor Program coordinator, was the coordinator Rescue Heroes. The instructors for the camp were Robin Polkosnik, the instructor of the Herkimer BOCES Criminal Justice Career and Technical Education program, and Kelly Cave, an instructional coach for Herkimer BOCES Instructional Support Services.
“It was my pleasure and joy to work with a wonderful group of young women with similar interests in serving their community as an emergency service provider,” Polkosnik said.
Cave was also very happy about how the program turned out.
“Rescue Heroes of 2023 are a dynamic and diverse group of young women dedicated to helping the world one person at a time,” Cave said. “These young ladies were inspired daily through connections formed with female role-models in our community, as well as relationships they developed with each other throughout the week-long program. The excitement they shared while attaining the necessary skills to become first responders is wonderful and makes me so proud to be part of such a wonderful program.”
A ‘plethora’ of career options
First responder career experiences that students had included the canine rescue demonstration by state troopers; visiting Ilion Police Chief Laurie DeVaul, Ilion firefighter Mary Reece and Ilion Mayor John Stephens; and traveling to Little Falls Hospital to talk with department heads of areas including emergency, surgery, radiology, laboratory and pathology, human resources and education.
“We opened their eyes to a plethora of first responder and related careers,” Napolitano said.
Students also participated in first responder trainings that not only introduced them to more career options but also provided skills that they could put to use immediately if needed.
“What we felt was so important at their young age is to look at what’s going on in the world and teach them, so they can save lives right now,” Napolitano said.
Students received Narcan training from the RISE Recovery Community Outreach Center, “Stop the Bleed” training from the Albany Med Health System Trauma Program, first aid and CPR training from the Mohawk Valley Ambulance Corps Inc. (MOVAC) and self-defense training from Herkimer BOCES school resource officer Darrin Miller.
Self-defense was included because first responders can sometimes run into combative individuals at a scene, Napolitano said.
“You need to be able to defend yourself,” she said.
‘That’s your dream’
One of the highlights of the week was a trip to the Ilion Fire Department to hear from Ilion Police Chief Laurie DeVaul and Ilion firefighter and emergency medical technician Mary Reece, who is a 2010 graduate of the Herkimer BOCES Criminal Justice program.
Ilion Mayor John Stephens also visited the firehouse to provide words of encouragement for the students.
“Enjoy the day,” Stephens said. “Ask questions. That’s what it’s all about.”
As far as anyone involved is aware, DeVaul is the first female police chief in the region, and Reece is the first career firefighter in Herkimer County.
DeVaul talked to students about police training, equipment, ties to education, dangers and rewarding moments.
“The things you do, the lives you touch – most of them, you’re never going to know the impact you had,” DeVaul said, before telling some stories of times that people did come up to her and thank her years later. “You really, really make a difference and positively impact people’s lives as a police officer.”
Police officers see people at both their best and their worst, DeVaul said. She has been forced into her fair share of fights, but she focuses more on a strength of hers – which is de-escalating a situation.
“I’ve always had the ability to talk to people and connect with people,” DeVaul said. “That’s part of the job.”
DeVaul told students not to listen to anyone who tells them they can’t be a police officer or firefighter.
“If you want to do it, go for it – because that’s your dream,” DeVaul said.
Reece provided a tour of the department including the firetrucks, the fire pole, the beds, the lockers and more. She explained the firefighters’ work schedule, daily routine and various other aspects of the job.
Describing herself as “stubborn and defiant,” Reece said she became a firefighter despite concerns from her mother about the dangers of the job.
“If there is something you really want to do, push for it and be your own advocate,” Reece said. “I love helping people, and that’s one of the main reasons I got into this.”
Some women might have concerns about being able to be both a firefighter and a mother, Reece said, but she told the students she had a child before becoming a firefighter and another one while a firefighter.
“Don’t let wanting to have a family stop you,” Reece said. “It’s very much possible.”
‘Embedding all of that’
The camp was required to include daily physical fitness, so students participated in the self-defense training, did yoga with Lisa Gallagher and had various movement, walking and stretching activities throughout the week.
“We infused physical activity every day,” Napolitano said.
Students also received nutrition education from Leah McCaskey, a SNAP-Ed nutritionist for Cornell Cooperative Extension through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
Overall, the program integrated daily physical activity, life skills, 21st century skills, team-building, self-care, mindfulness and social-emotional learning.
“We were embedding all of that every day into whichever activities we did,” Napolitano said.
Self-care was a vital part of the camp, Napolitano said.
“In that first responder lifestyle, you see a lot of bad things,” she said. “You see death, you see injury, you see situations that can be extremely traumatic.”
Team-building activities also were important to the program.
“You’re not alone when you’re a first responder,” Napolitano said. “You need to be able to work as a team.”
Students also completed a character-strengths survey and discovered how their strengths connected with first responder careers they were interested in.
“We wanted them to understand the important strengths that each of them embody,” Napolitano said.
In closing
Following all of the activities throughout the week, students participated in a team-building activity of preparing thank you messages and comments for people who supported the program.
“And then we celebrated our week together and our successes,” Napolitano said.
State Assemblywoman Marianne Butenschon, Herkimer BOCES District Superintendent Sandra Sherwood, Herkimer County Public Health Department Director Christina Cain and Herkimer County Youth Bureau Executive Director Gina Giacovelli participated in the closing celebration.
Butenschon shared contact information with students and asked them to keep in touch, inform her about what they end up doing for their careers and let her know if there is ever anything she can ever do to help them.
“I thought that was wonderful,” Napolitano said.
Students participating in the Rescue Heroes Summer Day Camp through Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES pose with Ilion Police Chief Laurie DeVaul and Ilion firefighter and emergency medical technician Mary Reece outside of the Ilion Fire Department.
Ilion firefighter and emergency medical technician Mary Reece speaks to students participating in the Rescue Heroes Summer Day Camp through Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES at the Ilion firehouse.
Ilion Police Chief Laurie DeVaul and Ilion firefighter and emergency medical technician Mary Reece speak to students participating in the Rescue Heroes Summer Day Camp through Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES at the Ilion firehouse.
Students participating in the Rescue Heroes Summer Day Camp through Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES pose in an ambulance during first aid and CPR training from the Mohawk Valley Ambulance Corps Inc. (MOVAC).
Students participating in the Rescue Heroes Summer Day Camp through Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES receive first aid and CPR training from the Mohawk Valley Ambulance Corps Inc. (MOVAC).
Students participating in the Rescue Heroes Summer Day Camp through Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES receive “Stop the Bleed” training from the Albany Med Health System Trauma Program.
Students participating in the Rescue Heroes Summer Day Camp through Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES pose with the Albany Med Health System Trauma Program team after receiving “Stop the Bleed” training.
New York state troopers give a canine rescue presentation to students participating in the Rescue Heroes Summer Day Camp through Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES.
Students participating in the Rescue Heroes Summer Day Camp through Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES pose with New York state troopers, who provided a canine rescue presentation.
Ilion firefighter and emergency medical technician Mary Reece speaks to students participating in the Rescue Heroes Summer Day Camp through Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES at the Ilion firehouse.
Ilion Police Chief Laurie DeVaul speaks to students participating in the Rescue Heroes Summer Day Camp through Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES at the Ilion firehouse.
Students participating in the Rescue Heroes Summer Day Camp through Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES participating in a team-building activity to make a “thank you” display for everyone who supported the program.