Camp Ignite  

Chapel Hill High School is proud to offer one of the few public safety programs in North Carolina that provides high school students with a direct pathway into careers in fire, rescue, and emergency medical services. Our program was created to give all students an opportunity to explore the public safety profession, develop valuable life skills, and determine whether a career in emergency services is the right fit for their future.

Through strong partnerships with the Chapel Hill Fire Department and Carrboro Fire-Rescue, we work to identify workforce needs and prepare the next generation of public safety professionals. These partnerships provide students with mentorship, hands-on learning experiences, and exposure to real-world career opportunities, helping bridge the gap between education and employment.

While the fire service continues to grow and evolve, women remain significantly underrepresented within the profession. Camp Ignite was created to help change that. This four-day experience is designed to introduce young women to the exciting and rewarding world of firefighting in a supportive, encouraging, and inclusive environment.

Working alongside experienced female firefighters and public safety professionals, participants will learn fundamental firefighting skills, develop teamwork and leadership abilities, build confidence, and gain insight into the many career opportunities available within the fire service. Most importantly, they will have the opportunity to ask questions, challenge themselves, make new friends, and discover their own potential.  This will hopefully transition into a career pathway through the High School program or directly to the fire departments.

This program would not be possible without the dedication of our community partners. We extend our sincere gratitude to the Chapel Hill Fire Department, Carrboro Fire-Rescue, and the many local businesses, vendors, and supporters who have generously donated equipment, resources, funding, and time to help make Camp Ignite a reality. Their commitment to investing in the next generation of public safety professionals continues to make a lasting impact on the lives of our students and our community.