It was a beautiful autumn Wednesday morning in Greater Sudbury, the type where a high school student would enjoy spending the day outdoors.
Eight students at Confederation High School got to spend it on their ATVs thanks to an initiative run through the Rainbow District School Board called ATV Days.
"Today we're doing our second ATV run with the Greater Sudbury Police Service. We do this for a few reasons, it's a great opportunity for experiential learning, it's a great day to get out of classroom and have kids learning in a fantastic environment, we also do this to promote safety. Many of our students are on ATVs often," said experiential learning coordinator Jody Jakubo.
The program started after seeing success through a similar initiative Snowmobile Days. A teacher at Confederation High School approached Greater Sudbury Police Const. Al Brunette and from there ATV Days' was born.
"I think being in an alternative environment with their teachers is really a great experience," said Jakubo.
"This is the second time we've done this with Const. Brunette and he's such a great role model for students. When he walks into the school, they're so happy to see him now. It's really changing the relationship between students and law enforcement and the MNRF."
Students have been learning about safety through presentations thanks to the OPP and Greater Sudbury police. They've also been learning about maintenance thanks to lessons from their automotive teacher.
Brunette led them through a three hour around Nelson Lake where the trek is roughly 50-kilometres long.
"It feels good to have that relationship with them, that way when they meet us on the road or in the bush … it's not such a bad experience," said Brunette.
"The big appeal to me was having that positive relationship. ATVs are a very popular thing in the City of Greater Sudbury so I think it's an important thing for the youth to have that relationship with all law enforcement. Not just Greater Sudbury police but also the OPP and MNRF who will be promoting safe operations.”
He said Hanmer has a lot of complaints in regards to the use of ATVs so it’s a great spot to start the program.
AWESOME OPPORTUNITY
Students said it's been an awesome opportunity to take part and something they'll remember for years to come.
"We have a really big population of students that love to go out on their quads and I have friends that love to go out so it's really great … there's a lot of stereotypes involving teenagers and how they're idiots on their quad so it's really great to be out here an to learn about the safety and show teenagers are safe, too," said Grade 12 student Lauren Hull.
"I think it's great – the Grade 11s as soon as they get their G2 to come out and get to know the police officers too. I know a lot of people kind of don't like cops but you get to know them and get comfortable with them," said Grade 12 student Joey Rivest.
Participants were also treated to a cookout at the lake thanks to officers from the MNRF.
