Teenagers from the Southern Gulf Islands and Lower Vancouver Island including four from Parkland spent their spring break challenging themselves, physically and mentally through an intense week of hands on fire and rescue training. The boot camp took place at the Pender Island Fire Rescue hall #1 on Pender Island, B.C. The young cadets overcame challenging and stressful situations that firefighters and first responders across the country experience everyday. They came out of the boot camp with a better understanding of what it means to be a future hero, an inspiration to those following in their footsteps. Hundreds of volunteer hours were contributed by more than 40 firefighters and support crews from Pender and Salt Spring Fire Rescue to provide this unique experience of a lifetime.
Photography by Chad Hipolito for The Globe and Mail
~ Team Alpha Cadet, Molly, receives assistance in putting on her tank
![](https://parkland.sd63.bc.ca/pluginfile.php/13/mod_forum/attachment/2323/Molly%20Andrews.jpg)