Earlier this month, Girl Scouts from across the region came together for Camp Operation: REACT, a week of hands-on emergency response training at Camp Low.

The camp was a collaboration between Chatham County, the Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia, and Memorial Health that gave Girl Scouts in seventh through ninth grade a firsthand look at what it means to lead during a crisis.

Throughout the week, campers learned about severe weather response, firefighting, emergency medical care, search and rescue, drone operations, and evidence processing before putting their skills to the test during a full-scale disaster simulation.

Campers also worked with the Chatham County Public Information Office and WTOC to participate in mock press conferences, giving them a firsthand look at the critical role public information and the media play during emergencies and a complete understanding of the many moving parts involved in disaster response.

The experience not only equipped campers with practical emergency response skills, but also inspired them to explore future careers in emergency management, public safety, and community service.