It's not every day that Division I female student-athletes get to use chainsaws and axes. But March 10, 2018 was a unique day.
 
Jen Ladouceur, former Cal women's track & field student-athlete and current firefighter at the Berkeley Fire Department, created a two-day mini-fire academy boot camp. IGNITE Academy was geared toward Cal female student-athletes and community members to mentor and recruit women to the fire department.
 
Mia Corbin (women's soccer), Hannah DeRose (women's water polo), Chrissy Glasmann (women's track & field), Brooke Lisowski (women's soccer), Kendall Mader (women's track & field), Miranda Nild (women's soccer), and Genevieve Weed (women's water Polo alumni) participated in the academy.
 
These student-athletes are at the top of their game and in peak shape; they thought they were mentally and physically prepared for what lied ahead. But the academy was much more than they anticipated.
 
At the beginning of the first day, the participants were introduced to the firefighters, who served as their coaches for the day. They were then grouped into teams with fellow participants (Team Alpha, Bravo, and Charlie) before the real fun began. Team Alpha headed to Ladders, Team Bravo to Hose, and Team Charlie to Personal Protective Equipment with rotating stations throughout the day and classes about fire behavior and fire service.
 
The next day the student-athletes were back in full gear, sore but ready to take on the day. The day consisted of three stations: Forcible Entry, Power Tools, and Aerial Ladder. In the spirit of athletics, the day naturally had to end with a competition, the IGNITE Challenge. team Alpha (Glasmann and DeRose's team) took home the W, but Mader impressed the firefighters with her axe skills.
 
Cal's student-athletes said the academy impacted their personal growth, career preparation, and they gained an unparalleled understanding and awareness of team dynamics and bonding. 
 
"This physically demanding you don't think you can do – you will do it and you will be timed," Glasmann said. "We see we have this ability."
 
Glasmann said that although she's been an athlete her entire life, she had never experienced this type of female bonding, especially this quickly and deep. The student-athletes described how powerful and inspiring it was to see women of various backgrounds, ages, and athletic experiences come together and genuinely encourage each other.
 
DeRose said that it was the greatest day of her life and it set a career path for her as a firefighter. She'll be attending EMT school this summer and is excited to begin her journey. Similarly, Mader was already interested in becoming a firefighter, but this experience has strengthened her desire and she is seriously looking into enrolling in an academy post-graduation next year.  
 
DeRose, Glasmann, and Mader understand how unique and empowering this experience was for them. Their passion and excitement is still ever present and although two months have gone by, the power of this event hasn't worn off for them. They are working toward creating similar mini-boot camps for Cal female student-athletes in the fall to replicate the empowerment they felt, support the mission of the IGNITE Academy, and foster a more inclusive and bonded Cal female student-athlete community.