Upper Valley JVS
Location: Looney Road, Piqua
Students from: 14 associate school districts
Enrollment: 786
Satellite programs at schools: Approximately 2,000 students
More information: (937) 778-1980 or www.uvjvs.org
PIQUA— Rod Schmidt wanted to be a park ranger, but ended up teaching hundreds of young people about the workings of the outdoors.
With a parks and recreation degree from Ohio State University in hand, the West Alexandria area native was employed by the National Parks Service for six months before his career turned to teaching when he found the parks job would require him to travel.
After student teaching at the Miami Valley Career Technology Center, Schmidt heard of an opening for an environmental education instructor at the year-old Upper Valley Joint Vocational School in Piqua. He joined the school, now called the Upper Valley JVS, in 1976 and has been there ever since.
As the JVS celebrates its 35th anniversary this weekend, Schmidt has the distinction of being its longest-serving instructor.
In the initial years, the environmental occupations program was run from the JVS building. Later, it moved a short distance to the south to the Willowbrook Environmental Education Center on land donated by the Garbry family, including J. Scott Garbry, a former game warden. Over the years, those donations grew and the environmental center grew to include various habitats.
Students can attend the program their junior and senior years, spending more than three hours each day in instruction and hands on learning. The balance of the students’ days are spent in their academic classes at the JVS.
“We get students who like to be outside,” Schmidt said. Some will pursue his initial interest and become park rangers, while others will work in landscaping, golf courses or other outdoor occupations. To prepare, they’ll do everything from learning to drive a truck to operating chainsaws.
“Jim and I try to approach it (the program) as the kids are working in a living, breathing park. They maintain it, take care of leading groups through, all while learning how to operate equipment,” Schmidt said. Jim Metz has been his teaching partner at the center for 19 years. They work with individual interests such as aquaculture.
Schmidt, who said his interest in the environment was sparked through the Boy Scouts program, said those learning opportunities are invaluable to 16- and 17-year olds as they ponder their future.
One of the most rewarding parts of the job is the students who return to share their experiences with their former instructors, Schmidt said. He still hears every year from a woman who was in his first class at the JVS.
Schmidt, who is an Eagle Scout, lives in Pleasant Hill with his wife, Tena. They have two sons, Jordan, 24, and Greg, 19, both of whom also are Eagle Scouts.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2292 or nbowman@DaytonDailyNews.com.
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