The Suffolk Department of Fire & Rescue has kicked off its campaign for applications for its annual Summer Fire and Life Safety Camps to be held at two different stations for children ages 6 to 9.

The camp is a half-day local camp that runs Monday through Friday and will expose school-age children to what it is like to be a firefighter with Suffolk Fire & Rescue with a variety of fun, challenging, entertaining and educational activities. The mission of the camp is to teach children safety lessons on things around their homes and schools that they encounter every day. Short lectures and lessons are followed by opportunities to actively participate in exercises designed to reinforce topics including firefighting, bike safety, water safety, search and rescue practices, first aid and much more.

The fee for each weekly session is $85 per child, which includes a camp T-shirt, various school supplies and lunch each day except for Friday, when there will be a graduation for participants. Participants can arrive as early as 7:30 a.m. and must be picked up by 1 p.m. The sessions run from 8:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 8:30 a.m. to noon on Friday. Transportation to and from the camp is not provided.

The sessions and locations are as follows:

• Session 1, July 24-28, Station #5, 3901 Bridge Road
• Session 2, Aug. 7-11, Station #6, 300 Kings Fork Road
• Session 3, Aug. 14-18, Station #6, 300 Kings Fork Road

The registration deadline is June 9 for all three camps. You may mail or drop off the application and fee to Suffolk Fire & Rescue Fire Camp, 300 Kings Fork Road, Suffolk, VA 23434. Checks need to be made out to the Jeff T. Messinger Memorial Fund. Space is limited, and camps will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Participants will not be confirmed for the camp until the application and payment are received.

For more information, contact Jeanie Brinkley at 514-4551. Application forms can be downloaded from www.suffolkva.us/firecamp.