William Lien WDIO
Published: August 18, 2025 – 4:55 PM
For close to a decade now, the Rescue Divas program has inspired middle school girls to work in the EMS field. Girls across northwest Wisconsin learn CPR and other lifesaving skills first responders need.
Erika Kurtz, one of the co-directors, had the Rescue Divas learn first aid skills, water safety, and other crisis response knowledge. She says local emergency services like the Ashland fire department, Sawyer County Search and Rescue, and Lifelink III teach the girls.
“It’s really important because in our volunteer system in Ashland and Bayfield County. Probably many others in rural Wisconsin. Our population is getting older. We need people coming up behind us to be able to take the reins,” Kurtz said. “Otherwise, when you call 911, there isn’t going to be anybody. So that’s why we try to get girls interested. I’m really proud of our graduates that we have so many that are out there in the world. We have over 175 girls that have gone through the program. Some of them have saved lives.”
2/3 of Wisconsin EMS agencies employ volunteers. Most of those services are in rural areas; according to a 2023 report from the Wisconsin office of rural health. One of the Rescue Divas, Myla Schmidt, says the camp program is great for learning about possible future careers as a first responder and helps girls be more involved with their community.
“You get to meet lots of new girls and make new friends. There are a ton of fun activities, and the food’s really great, it’s all you can eat, I feel like,” Myla said. “The counselors are all really nice, and all the people we’ve met have all been really nice.”
Myla added that she’s thankful for the different lessons and Rescue Diva camp experiences. She plans on working in the medical field when she’s older.
“At first, I wanted to be a nurse practitioner or a NICU nurse or something to do with kids and helping kids. But now that we’ve had all these other jobs and stuff, I find the Search and Rescue team really cool,” Myla said. “You can do it at 14, the training, and then at 16 you can volunteer to help. I think that might be a really good opportunity.”
Another rescue diva, Emily Botten, says some of the training exercises seemed a bit difficult at first. Although with helpful guidance she feels prepared to act fast in an emergency.
“I used to think that CPR would be really hard to learn and do, but it’s actually easier than you think,” Botten said. “It’s a great quality to have for if you ever need to use it.”
Emily also said after trying new experiences with learning about being a first responder or working in the EMS field has made her think more on what she wants to do in the future.
“Actually, when I was little, I always saw myself as a singer or songwriter,” Botten said. “But I’m actually now thinking I want to be a paramedic.”
Rescue Divas is open to middle school girls (Currently in 6th, 7th or 8th grades) from Northwest Wisconsin. Priority is given to those residing in the ten counties served by Northwest Wisconsin CEP. These include: Ashland, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Iron, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, Taylor, and Washburn.
https://www.wdio.com/lift-online/rescue-divas-prepare-girls-to-be-the-first-responders-of-tomorrow