About a year ago, a student at the Westmont Technological School told a staff member that he wanted to be a firefighter.
An admirable goal, Charles Maher thought. But how could he put it into action?
The non-profit school, at 33 W. 63rd St., specializes in linking students with special needs with local businesses and manufacturers for hands-on job training. Maher helps students make that transition.
Although the training offered at the school includes a variety of skills such as graphics design, office and cleaning services and printing, Maher wasn’t sure how to find a firefighting outfit to help the student.
Then the Boy Scouts of America and the Westmont Fire Department entered the picture.
Now, under a new program, the scouts and West-Tech students can join a new Explorer scouting post at the Westmont Fire Department. There, they will serve as fire cadets and receive training to become firefighters.
When the students complete the program and reach their 19th birthday, they will be eligible to join the department as firefighters, said Fire Chief Frank Trout.
The program already has garnered enthusiastic support; 12 firefighters, including a former Eagle Scout, have volunteered to guide the program and help with equipment costs.
“It’s great for kids to be able to get to explore firefighting work first-hand, at very little cost, while they’re still in school,” said Bruce Gates, a local scoutmaster.
The program is also a boon for West-Tech students, all of whom are between ages 14 and 21 and have had difficulty in traditional educational settings because of behavioral, emotional or learning disabilities, Maher said.
“We’re having students sign up for the Explorer program who would have laughed at the Boy Scouts,” he said. “These kids cannot wait to get in there and test themselves.”
In exchange for the $20 fee to join the Boy Scouts and the program, the students will earn vocational and science credits while they receive training, Maher said. In return, the fire department gets to help train potential recruits.
“Basically, it’s a win-win situation for everyone,” Trout said.
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The Explorers will tackle a variety of tasks, Trout said, including training with firefighters, learning about firefighting equipment and taking fire safety classes. As sponsors, firefighters will offer the cadets emotional support, he said.
West-Tech also is working with high schools in Westmont, Downers Grove and Hinsdale to recruit more students for the Westmont program and to establish similar programs, Maher said. If all goes according to plan, new programs could start next year.
As for the student who suggested the program last year, he is rarin’ to go, Maher said.
“You would not believe how happy this kid is about learning to be firefighter,” he said. “You would just not believe it.”