28 high school students, largely from Bellefonte, Bald Eagle, Central Mountain, State College and Penns Valley, participated in a variety of hands-on educational experiences designed to spark their interest in emergency services. While many cadets are from the local area, some came as far as Mt. Pocono and the suburbs of Philadelphia to take part in the experience.

Cadets had the opportunity to earn their CPR certifications and do Stop the Bleed training, while also learning more advanced skills like triage and what to do in an active shooter situation.

The camp also offered adrenaline-pumping activities like rappelling down a fire tower, zip-lining and rock wall climbing – activities designed to mirror the physical demands of the job.

Campers got to visit Centre County’s 911 center, LifeFlight’s hangar and tour a hospital’s emergency department to gain a comprehensive view of the profession.

HUNTER SMITH/THE EXPRESS In the mock scenario, soldiers assess Sgt. Benner who pretended to have an arm amputated in a blast.

As a special surprise, the camp was also visited by members of the military who demonstrated how EMS works in combat situations and landed a Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk for the cadets to marvel at.

A standout feature of the camp was the access to EMS professionals from major cities like New York, Washington, D.C. and New Orleans. Thanks to the organizers’ strong connections, the students engaged in professional development Zoom sessions with figures like renowned retired Fire Chief and Deputy Chief of EMS Ken Bouvier of the New Orleans EMS.

Funded by a $50,000 grant from the Pa. Bureau of EMS, the camp was created to help students decide if a career in EMS is for them.

“The goal of this camp is to get this younger generation involved in the emergency medical services,” said Sharon Nilson, EMS chief at Snow Shoe EMS and one of the organizers of the camp. “We need help. We’re very short staffed all across the state and this is a way to get them interested, to see what we can do and see the avenues that EMS can take you to.”

Camper Alivia Ulrich, 16, of Lock Haven had great things to say about the experience.

HUNTER SMITH/THE EXPRESS Campers listen to EMS Chief Sharon Nilson as she introduces the captain of one of Brooklyn’s EMS stations.

“It’s definitely fun. I would recommend it to anyone who would want to look into the healthcare field at least, because it gives you a feeling of, yeah, this is what I could experience, or maybe this isn’t suited for me. It helps you get that experience without having to go through and spend a lot of money,” she said.

Chief Nilson herself, who has been working in EMS for nearly 40 years, started in emergency services at age 13 as a junior member of her local fire company.

“I knew what I liked. I enjoyed it. So, when I turned 18, I took my first EMT class, and I’ve been doing it since. And I’m 57 years old now,” she said.

She hopes Camp Cadet will spark the same passion for the campers as her early involvement did for her.

“What I hope EMS gets out of it is they get 28 new people into the system,” said Tim Nilson, the Executive Director at Seven Mountains EMS Council and Sharon’s husband. “If they don’t get 28 — they only get three — it’s still worth it.”

HUNTER SMITH/THE EXPRESS Campers chat with some of the soldiers.

Of course, he says he hopes all 28 cadets will decide to answer the call.

Ulrich says she definitely wants to pursue EMS in the future and has plans to do so through Central Mountain’s career and technical education program.

“Since my school offers a CTE program, I can go through my school and actually go work with Lock Haven EMS and start learning more and taking classes,” she said.

Camp Cadet comes at a critical time as EMS agencies across the commonwealth and the country struggle with staffing shortages.

Sharon Nilson emphasized the need for more young people to get involved in EMS, citing the growing difficulty in recruiting volunteers due to families’ busy schedules.

PHOTO PROVIDED / Wednesday, Aug. 14, Camp Cadet campers toured the LifeFlight hangar at the State College Regional Airport.

As the cost of living around the country has risen and Americans continue to have less free time, fewer people are able to volunteer, forcing emergency service providers to turn to paid crews.

“We’re here in our community, and we’re here to help, but we can’t without money,” said Chief Sharon Nilson.

Because of diminished financial resources, EMS agencies often can’t offer competitive pay and benefits, making already waning recruitment all the more dire. This has led to a reliance on donations, subscription services and bailouts from municipalities. In some extreme cases, EMS providers have had to shutter operations.

“It’s either us or we go away and you wait 30 minutes for the next closest ambulance to get up to you,” she said, making stark the reality of the situation.

Some communities, like Snow Shoe Borough and Show Shoe and Burnside Townships, have decided to implement an EMS tax to alleviate the financial stress, which Nilson said was a step in the right direction.

“As long as people out there are doing things they shouldn’t be doing, we’re gonna have jobs,” she said. “I hope they realize this is something they can do. That they get a feeling that they want to help their community and this is a path to do that.”