Emergency Services Career Camp
Sign up for this year's Emergency Services Career Camp (ESCC).
ESCC is a 2-day camp for youth aged 15 to 19, hosted each year by Waterloo Fire Rescue, Waterloo Regional Police Service, and Region of Waterloo Paramedic Services.
On this page:
What to expect at ESCC
This year’s camp will run from September 12 to 13, 2026.
The application deadline is July 31, 2026.
ESCC is a transformative 2-day experience designed to challenge and empower youth interested in a future as a first responder.
Participants will:
- learn practical skills in safe, supervised conditions
- gain hands-on experience as a police officer, firefighter or paramedic
- build emergency preparedness skills
- take part in simulated rescues
Who can apply
ESCC welcomes youth aged 15 to 19 who are interested in a career in emergency services.
We encourage applications from youth who identify with marginalized groups, including Indigenous, Black, racialized, 2SLGBTQ+, and religious minority communities, and people at the intersections of these identities.
Applicants must:
- be in good physical condition
- have a positive attitude and follow safety rules
- participate in all activities and classes
- have a valid provincial health card
- bring CSA-approved steel toe boots with the green triangle logo (required but does not exclude you from applying)
- be able to wear all protective gear provided
- comply with all public health measures
How to apply
The ESCC is a joint camp experience from Waterloo Fire Rescue, Waterloo Regional Police Services and Region of Waterloo Paramedic Services, modelled after successful camps across Ontario.
Apply for this year’s camp by completing the online application form.
The application includes long-form written questions. To avoid losing your work, we recommend preparing your answers in a separate document (such as Google Docs or Microsoft Word) and pasting them into the form when ready.
Apply for Emergency Services Career Camp
Getting to camp
Camp runs daily from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Waterloo Region Emergency Services Training and Research Centre.
The nearest transit stop (at Erb Street West and Ira Needles Boulevard) is about 1.5 km away — plan your route on the Grand River Transit website.
Free parking is available on-site.
Get directions from Google Maps
Become an ESCC volunteer
If you’ve attended the Emergency Services Career Camp (ESCC) in a previous year, or are a current or past student of a Conestoga College First Responders Program, you’re encouraged to apply to volunteer.
Volunteers will:
- support camp activities such as simulated rescues and platoon leadership
- help campers build strong emergency preparedness skills through scenario-based challenges
- provide first aid as needed
- help set up and take down activities
- assist with other tasks as needed
All selected volunteers must attend an orientation session at the Waterloo Region Emergency Services Training and Research Centre before their first day.
Only those selected as volunteers will be contacted for an orientation session.