By Craig Anderson

DOVER — She described the decision to cancel as an “incredibly sad” one but necessary nonetheless.

Out of an abundance of caution due to recently rising COVID-19 numbers, this year’s Camp Fury Delaware event won’t be held, director Sarah Highberger said Tuesday.

The camp at the Delaware State Fire School on Chestnut Grove Road was designed “to allow young women ages 13 to 17 to have exposure to different areas of emergency services, in a supportive environment, teaching skills by women in the industry,” according to a Facebook post announcing the cancellation.

Debuting in 2017, the overnight camp typically includes 60 campers and 50 instructors, all from Delaware. This year’s event had been scheduled for Aug. 14-15.

The camp is led by female first responders at the local, state and federal level — including firefighters, paramedics, EMTs, law enforcement officers, military personnel, emergency managers and hazmat responders.

On its Facebook page, the camp listed its continuing values as:
• Courage — for campers to try something new and different.
• Confidence — for campers to feel self-assured in their own abilities.
• Character — for campers to develop their mental and moral qualities, and to have strength in their originality.

Ms. Highberger stressed that she is looking forward to the camp returning in 2022.

“It’s a wonderful experience for our girls, and it serves to support the first responders community,” Ms. Highberger said.

On the Team Fury Facebook page, a post noted that, “Looking forward, we are scheduling dates for CFD in 2022 and will continue to sustain our courage, our confidence and character, lowering our shoulders, pushing forward and remaining hopeful that we will all be together again soon.”