For the fourth consecutive year, members of the Maryland-National Capital Region Emergency Response System’s (MDERS) Operational Support Directorate participated in HERoes on the HERizon, a summer camp developed by the Anne Arundel County Office of Emergency Management. Since the camp’s inception, the program has provided teenage girls with a unique opportunity to explore the many career paths available throughout public safety and emergency management while meeting the women and men who serve communities across Maryland.
Throughout the camp, participants received a behind-the-scenes look at public safety careers and took part in hands-on activities designed to introduce them to different disciplines. Campers visited the United States Park Police horse stables, where they toured the facility, met the horses, and learned about the role of mounted officers. The group also toured the U.S. Department of the Interior, providing another perspective on careers in government and public service.
Several activities gave campers an opportunity to experience public safety skills firsthand. The Anne Arundle County Police Department conducted a K9 demonstration showcasing the capabilities of police working dogs and their handlers. Anne Arundel Community College provided a cybersecurity presentation and interactive activity, introducing participants to the growing role technology plays in protecting communities and critical systems. Campers also learned about unmanned aircraft and their applications through a drone presentation from the Civil Air Patrol.
The program also introduced participants to important emergency medical and response skills. Campers completed CPR/AED and Stop the Bleed training, giving them practical, lifesaving skills they can use well beyond the camp. A moulage class offered a different type of hands-on experience, allowing participants to learn how realistic injuries are created to support public safety training and exercises.
A highlight of the week was Prince George’s County Day, which provided an up-close look at several components of the county’s public safety system. The day included a tour of Prince George’s County Public Safety Communications, where participants learned about the critical role 9-1-1 professionals play during emergencies. Campers also received a special visit from MDERS Steering Committee member Deputy Director Meloyde Batten-Mickens of the Prince George’s County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, who spoke with the group about emergency management and opportunities within the field.
The group then visited the Prince George’s County Police Department Special Operations Division (SOD), where MDERS Steering Committee Chair Lt. Nicholas Fiore provided a tour of the facility alongside Sgt. Lindsay Wood. Campers also explored PGPD’s Mini City, a specialized training environment where officers practice responding to realistic incidents and scenarios.
The experience continued with a look at public safety aviation. Campers had the opportunity to see Guardian, PGPD’s helicopter and received a presentation on what it takes to become a pilot, introducing them to yet another career path within public safety.
HERoes on the HERizon is about more than touring facilities or learning new skills. Each experience gives young women an opportunity to see the breadth of public safety and, more importantly, to see themselves as part of it. By connecting campers directly with professionals and exposing them to careers in law enforcement, 9-1-1 communications, emergency management, cybersecurity, aviation, emergency medicine, and other specialized fields, the program continues to help inspire the next generation of women who may one day serve and lead Maryland’s public safety community.
Written by Elizabeth Adams