Blaze and Blue: Michigan Summer Camp Introduces Young Women to Careers in Law Enforcement and Firefighting

ANN ARBOR, MI — An annual camp for young women interested in careers in law enforcement or firefighting welcomed 11 Ann Arbor high school students for a week of activities.

The Ann Arbor Police and fire departments put on the annual Blaze and Blue camp in partnership with the city. Girls aged 15 to 18 can enroll in the camp, which takes place over four days each summer.

On Thursday, the group took to the test track at MCity — the University of Michigan’s autonomous vehicle proving grounds — to watch K-9 handlers train their dogs, take part in mock traffic stops and even fire Simunition training pistols.

AAPD Officer Kasey Whitford, who helps organize the camp, says the police activities grew more engaging when the outdoor component moved to MCity last year.

Since Blaze and Blue began in 2022, dozens of young women interested in police work or firefighting have had the chance to get a first-hand look at what daily work in those fields is like.

“There’s a lot of interest in becoming a detective, but once they’re with us they see all the other stuff we get to do,” she said “It’s kind of eye-opening to them —what they see is just on TV. So actually talking to us opens their eyes.”

K-9 officer Roscoe greets camp attendees during the annual Blaze and Blue camp at MCity in Ann Arbor, Mich., on July 10.

One-on-one time with real police officers and firefighters helps young women find role models and explore a career they might not otherwise consider, Whitford said.

“When I was little, I thought it was all men in policing,” she said. “I think women have a great advantage in law enforcement because we have natural empathy... having us there is almost like an instant de-escalation tool that we can use.”

On Thursday, AAPD officers Thomas Burnett and Greg Bergland showed off the tracking skills of their K-9 partners Stang, a Belgian Malinois, and ROScoE, a Dutch Shepherd.

Stang and Burnett searched a field to find objects hidden by campers, then ROScoE and Bergland followed a scent trail to find Burnett before clamping onto his arm through a bite suit.

Laney Ward, 16, said she first became aware of the camp through a counselor at Huron High School. Ward developed an early interest in firefighting after a school career day visit and watching firefighters put out a neighborhood blaze near her home.

Ward said the camp gave her an opportunity to get one-on-one time with real firefighters and police officers to get an idea of what a career in either field might be like.

“You get to see, rather than the movie aspect about what they do, more of the reality of what it’s like in daily life,” Ward said. “The cops were interesting, too — we got to shoot tasers!”

Later, firearms instructors Kabe Jenkins and Jeffrey Harvey taught the campers about gun safety and led a practical demonstration of the department’s training Simunition pistols, which fire paint-filled projectiles but otherwise function like real firearms.

University of Michigan Department of Public Safety and Security officer and firearms instructor Jeffrey Harvey teaches camp attendees how to use a simmunition training pistol during the annual Blaze and Blue camp at MCity in Ann Arbor, Mich., on July 10.

Both groups got the chance to fire the training pistols at paper targets from 8 to 12 yards and even popped balloons with the paint-filled projectiles.

Campers also called in a simulated traffic stop from a patrol car radio, questioning and even handcuffing officers to learn about the arrest process.

The four-day camp ended in a ceremony attended by Chief of Police Andre Anderson and Fire Chief Mike Kennedy. After, campers were presented with certificates commemorating their time at the camp.

The Ann Arbor Fire Department hosted students at the city’s Wheeler Service Center for activities including using a firehose, rappelling, rides in the bucket of a ladder truck and a simulated rescue from a wrecked vehicle.

“Things like this camp are great because it actually gives you two days with a real police officer or firefighter, and you can ask them the questions that are burning in your brain,” Whitford said. “Even if it doesn’t get you into the career, at least you’ve had those positive contacts.”

Plans are in place for another edition of the camp next year. The chance to enroll will again be announced on the city’s website.