Upcoming sixth- through ninth- graders interested in learning what it takes to be a firefighter are encouraged to sign up for Dawson County Emergency Services' Junior Fire Academy.

Designed to give youngsters a working knowledge of fire service, junior fire academy offers an introduction to the field with hands-on exercises that focus on leadership, safety and a basic understanding of what's going on when they see a fire truck going down the road.

The free weeklong camp runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 17-21 at Fire Station No. 7 on Dawson Forest Road. Lunch and snacks will be provided.

In addition to hands-on fire fighter training, cadets will also receive supervised instruction in CPR and medical aid, as well as search and rescue methods.

Dawson County Emergency Services Assistant Chief Danny Speaks said it's an unforgettable experience that brings cadets back year after year.

"It's just a lot of fun. We have several that are return participants, and we have a few that have progressed into our Explorer program who come back to help our instructors," he said.

"We're just going to have all kinds of fun," Speaks said. "We're going to teach them about the fire department and the life of a firefighter."

The academy concludes with a graduation ceremony at Riverview Middle School, which allows cadets to showcase their learned skills.

For more information or to register, call (706) 344-3666 or e-mail dspeaks@dawsoncounty.org.