Building Connections, Inspiring Kids: Engine 12 At Olson Elementary School

An incentive program at Olson Elementary School not only encourages kids to do something good — it also connects them with their neighborhood firefighters in a fun and rewarding way!

Seeking to make an ongoing, positive connection with students in the neighborhood, Lt. Eric Brinkmann of Fire Station 12 reached out to Olson Elementary to come up with a plan…

A program called SWIMMY (appropriate for this school of ‘otters!’) recognizes students who are observed doing something good, doing something above and beyond what’s expected, or showing improved behavior.

Students' names are put in a bowl, and each month one name from each grade is nominated to be entered in a final drawing for the grand prize: A visit from firefighters!

Engine 12’s A-shift crew comes over to the school to have lunch with all the nominees, then the grand prize winner and one friend get to spend one-on-one time with the crew as they look around the fire truck.

It’s fun for everyone, and inspires great things from our area kids. Even better, it helps students get to know their friendly neighborhood firefighters!

See more photos from Engine 12's visit!

 

Pictured top: Lt. Eric Brinkmann with the SWIMMY grand prize winner and her friend
Pictured bottom: Community Education Officer Bernadette Galvez, Lt. Brinkmann, Firefighter Carolanne Trilling, AE Todd Sailor, and Firefighter James Schmitt, Jr. with all kindergarten and first-grade SWIMMY nominees.