Fox Valley Technical College is teaming up with Oshkosh Fire and Oshkosh’s Read Elementary School to create a new fire station-themed playground at the school and organize activities that will bring Fire Protection students and elementary school students together in the future.

The new fire station-themed equipment—including a play fire truck—will create a safe space for students to play with others and imagine what it would be like to be a firefighter one day. In addition, FVTC Fire Protection students will work with Read Elementary to teach students about such things as exit drills and fire prevention strategies. They will also create opportunities to interact and mentor the students.

“We will go have lunch with them and do different things like read stories,” explains Chris Fischer, fire instructor at FVTC. “They will have a story time program in the school and we will have our students do that as well.”

Research has shown the importance of introducing children to potential job opportunities at a young age. It’s hoped the new playground and related activities will help inspire a new generation of firefighters.

FOX11 recently did a story about the playground partnership. Watch:

Oshkosh Fire Department partnership to create innovative new playground

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