ITD joins counties to provide training
for at-risk youth

Trainer Mike Towne left ITD classrooms Nov. 8 to work with Nez Perce and Latah counties as they provided cadets at the Idaho Youth ChalleNGe Academy (IDYCA) with several training opportunities.

The ChalleNGe Academy in Pierce serves as a quasi-military, fully-accredited residential high school academy with the mission to aid dropouts from traditional high schools in finding other paths to becoming productive citizens of Idaho.

Towne taught a flagging course to 24 cadets, and although they are currently too young to work for ITD, they could join other organizations. Flagging training is useful beyond construction and traffic control, with applications in search-and-rescue missions or operations by the National Guard.

“I thought it was a great opportunity for ITD to work with local emergency management agencies and support the National Guard and the IDYCA in fulfilling their mission of reclaiming the lives of at-risk youth to produce graduates with values, skills, education and self-discipline necessary to succeed as responsible and productive citizens and adults while at the same time fulfilling ITD’s mission,” Towne said.

Skills passed on by Towne and other instructors will be put to the test in late November, when cadets undergo a full-scale disaster preparedness exercise. Towne won’t be missing that.

“The kids were eager to learn and a blast to teach. I hope ITD has the opportunity to continue to be a part of this program for a long time,” he said.

Published 11-29-19