May 8, 2014 at 11:18 a.m.
Careers on Wheels event gets students thinking about the future
Careers on Wheels event gets students thinking about the future
Vehicles associated with over 20 businesses were parked at the school Thursday morning as part of the fourth annual Careers on Wheels event.
The program, sponsored by Rhinelander Partners in Education (PIE), rotates each year between Central and Rhinelander's parochial schools. The goal is to teach kids about the different vehicles and equipment people in their neighborhood use on a daily basis.
"It's our fourth annual Careers on Wheels event that Rhinelander Partners in Education organizes, but it's really a collaboration amongst many businesses that have careers that use vehicles or work on vehicles or do something with vehicles for their career," said PIE board member Leah Van Zile.
"This year, we're at Central (Intermediate) School. We rotate each year between Central and Nativity (Catholic School) and Zion (Lutheran School), so each year kids in grades four and five are exposed to careers that use wheels."
The purpose of the event is to give students a close look at the kind of vehicles they might want to work with when they grow up, and to explain what it will take to get hired for the job they want.
"We just want to give them a little snapshot of what the vehicle looks like and let them check out the vehicle and handle some of the tools. It's just a really fun way to get the kids some good career exposure and see the different career options that are out there," Van Zile said. "It's really all about career exposure. Today is about planting little seeds that there are a lot of opportunities out there and to try and get them thinking about what they might want to do in the future."
Planting those seeds is important, even at a young age, Principal Tim Howell said, adding that the event also helps young people realize there are a lot of opportunities right in their backyard.
"We're hoping that the kids, and they're only in fourth and fifth grade, but we're hoping to at least plant a seed on something they may be interested in as they get older, to see all the different occupations here in our town," Howell said.
"We have a problem right now with kids graduating and then moving away from Rhinelander, so hopefully they can see through this process that there are many opportunities for employment right here in our area."
Careers on Wheels is the brainchild of Lieutenant Lloyd Gauthier of the Oneida County Sheriff's Department. He came up with the idea while participating in the Leadership Oneida County program.
"I think it's important for the kids to realize there's so many things they can do when they grow up and that a lot of these jobs require a good education and require you to make good decisions even when you're young," Gauthier said.
"It's important for them to understand that the decisions they make now impact them in the future and to understand that these jobs do require them to make good decisions and to pay attention in class and focus on their studies. It gives them an eye-opener for what their future could be if they study hard and make good decisions."
As popular as the event is - one fourth-grader exclaimed that he knows what he wants to do with his life after taking a tour of a squad car - it's also a big hit with local businesses and grows more popular each year. Van Zile said PIE and the schools are grateful for the continued support from the business community.
"Each year it has grown. Our first year, we had about 12 vehicles and now it has grown (to) over 20 and some weren't even able to make it today because of the weather," Van Zile said. "It's really exciting to see the interaction between the business professionals and the students and teachers. I think both parties really enjoy the interaction. The kids ask the most interesting questions which makes for some really neat interactions, and none of it would be possible without the great support from our community."
Marcus Nesemann may be reached at [email protected].
Click on the photo, below right, to view a photo gallery of the event and read more in Saturday's River News.
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