The Plumas-Sierra County Fairgrounds buzzed with energy and enthusiasm April 10 as over 130 Plumas County high school students and 40 public safety agency leaders gathered for the highly successful Public Safety Career Exploration event, reports Lisa Kelly, K-12 strong workforce pathway coordinator serving the Feather River and Lake Tahoe community college districts.
Hosted by Plumas Charter School in collaboration with Plumas District Hospital, the event aimed to ignite interest in public safety careers and offer hands-on learning exchanges between industry leaders and students in grades seven through 12. Kelly reported that students interacted with representatives of the following agencies and groups:
- California Highway Patrol
- Plumas County Sheriff’s Office
- Quincy Volunteer Fire Department
- California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
- Emergency medical services
- U.S. Forest Service
- Animal control
- California Department of Fish and Wildlife
- Dispatch
- Careflight
- Plumas District Hospital
- Plumas Superior Court
- Plumas County Office of Emergency Services
- Feather River College
Starting at 10 a.m., participants had the opportunity to engage directly with professionals from agencies and organizations on the lawn at the fairgrounds. Interactive exhibits, live demonstrations and one-on-one conversations gave attendees an inside look at the rewarding and impactful world of public safety, said organizers. Plumas District Hospital Foundation sponsored a lunch for students as they heard more in-depth information presented by each agency representative.
“We are thrilled with the turnout and the level of engagement we saw from our youth, teachers, counselors and administrators,” said Frank Carey, Quincy fire chief and event lead. Carey personally reached out to agencies with a 100% positive response. “This event was about planting seeds for future careers, building community relationships and showcasing the vital work our public safety professionals do every day,” said Carey.
“This was an opportunity for students to learn about the spectrum of careers in this priority sector, whereby students can start to build their skills and knowledge well before entering into a post-secondary program,” said Kelly.
Kelly reported that Taletha Washburn, executive director of Plumas Charter School, said she felt strongly that information regarding entry into these specialized fields be shared with the students. She specifically requested that students be informed of age requirements, essential skills and knowledge and professional certifications in addition to main contacts for additional information.
Many of these career trajectories require specific training and education and include age restrictions. On the other hand, some career paths — such as firefighting — can start with volunteering with a local department while still in high school. Students can also begin career readiness through career technical education in high school. For example, Kelly pointed out, the public safety career technical education pathway program at Plumas Charter School aligns with Feather River College’s CTE program in administration of justice and FRC’s new four-year program in ecosystem restoration and applied fire management.
The event drew participation from multiple schools including Quincy and Portola high schools; Plumas Charter School’s Chester, Greenville and Quincy sites; and Feather River College, underscoring a strong regional interest in public service careers, said Kelly.
Carey, Kelly and Washburn expressed gratitude to all volunteers, agencies and sponsors who made the event possible. Kelly said plans are already underway to make this an annual tradition, further reinforcing the community’s commitment to supporting and inspiring the next generation of public safety professionals.