LINWOOD — A lifeguard, police officers and firefighters joined sanitation professionals, veterinarians and utility workers to give children an early look at future job possibilities June 14.
Picking up where it left off in 2019, Seaview Elementary School welcomed back a variety of people from the community to talk to students when Careers on Wheels rolled back into the school parking lot.
David Funk of the Ventnor City Beach Patrol brought a Van Duyne lifeboat and some rescue equipment. He was telling a group of fourth-graders how the equipment is used and what lifeguards do to protect beachgoers as teacher David Wade and aide Jen Andrews waited to escort them to the next station.
Jennifer Freeman with GoCampingNJ.com explained to kindergartners in Becky Law’s class that a marketing manager uses written and visual information to generate interest in the product she is promoting. Freeman arrived in a minivan wrapped in an outdoor scene.
“They are learning a variety of careers that they might not even have thought about before, it’s giving them opportunities to think about possible career options,” Freeman said.
Third-grade teacher Marisa Hieb said the event introduces students to a lot of community members they may see around town.
“It spotlights parents, too. Students get to show off their mom and dad,” she said. “Each year you learn something new.”
The Linwood Police Department brought along some tactical vehicles and equipment, giving students a chance to get inside and check out all of the gizmos and gadgets.
A firetruck and AtlantiCare mobile response vehicle sat alongside trash and recycling trucks while utility line workers showed off their bucket truck.
Not all of those present were of the two-legged variety. Linwood Pet Hospital Director Emily Michael and clinical manager Ethan Burst brought along a French bulldog and tabby cat to pique children’s interest in animal welfare. Nina Lare’s third-graders couldn’t keep their hands off the cuddly creatures.
“I think it’s a great idea to talk about careers on wheels and different areas that kids can get excited about that are maybe not your traditional types of careers that you are seeing at career day,” Michael said, noting they talk about being a nurse, doctor or manager.
“We are veterinarian nurses by trade and now we’re on the management side of things. We can explain to them all the different aspects of veterinary medicine,” said Michael, whose daughter is a student at the school.
They said it’s important to find a career path early and prepare for it from a young age.
“We both knew that we would like to be in veterinarian medicine in kindergarten,” Michael said.
“For veterinarians, there is a lot of schooling. So, getting good grades, getting into it at a younger age helps them stay focused for it as they grow up,” Burst said, noting his path to animal welfare began with a love of pets but evolved with a love of science.
Not all of the four-legged participants were there for pleasure as Cece, of Cole the Deaf Dog and Friends Foundation, was working to spread their message of acceptance, showing that the lack of hearing is not disabling. Cece arrived in an SUV modified for her safety and wrapped in a bright logo representing the organization.
Willow Funk had a lot of questions for Nicole Sapello, who is soon to marry Chris Hannah. He and Cole were at a local graduation ceremony.
“We come during Wellness Day to talk about their therapy work — our wholegoal with the foundation is to relay a message of acceptance of various disabilities — but for Careers on Wheels we talk about how the vehicle helps us transport our dogs safely,” Sapello said.
Elise Scherbin’s preschoolers got their hands on some rocks and dirt at the Old Cape Recycling station. Blair Albright, whose family owns the business, was telling students about the many careers associated with recycling — not just bottles and cans but concrete, wood and vegetation — for use as other products.
“These kids have interesting questions and seemed really intrigued by it all,” said Albright, who was back for a second time at the event. “The kids get to touch the stone and the dirt, smell the broken-down mulch and squeeze the ear plugs. It’s just fun to engage them.”
By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff