News

CFD offering first-of-its-kind internship opportunity to high school seniors

CHELMSFORD, Massachusetts (May 23, 2025) – Chelmsford High School has been offering its seniors the opportunity to gain hands-on job training through its Workplace Experience Internship program for the past several years.

This year, five members of the Class of 2025 – Madison Climo, Evan DiTavi, Nate Cowell, Aidan Dowd and Jake Brooks – were given the chance to don helmets and turnout gear and work alongside members of the Chelmsford Fire Department.

Erik Byam, Chelmsford Fire Department’s training captain, has taken the students under his wing and helped give them some incredible hands-on experience, including everything from hose deployment and hydrant drills to vehicle extrication and search and rescue simulation.

This first-of-its-kind internship program is something Alex Cunningham, the Career and College Readiness Facilitator at CHS, has worked incredibly hard to coordinate.

“Alex has done an amazing job with organizing everything and really set us up well to be in a position for success,” Byam said. “Major hats off for all she’s done!”

Last year was the first time the fire department brought in CHS juniors for a job shadow day, so at the urging of Climo, Cunningham decided to further explore the possibility of an internship partnership.

“I’m passionate about the internship program and giving students the opportunity to learn about themselves and what they want to do in life,” Cunningham said. “So, to be able to offer them this option is amazing.”

During their internship, the CHS cadets have been able to go on several site visits to enhance their learning experiences.

They participated in a High School Immersion Program at the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy, visited Tewksbury and Lowell Fire Departments to learn more about how neighboring departments operate, and spent time at the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) Forest Fire Control.

“We’ve also had a representative from the Department of Fire Services who worked in the Hazmat Division and was a Chelmsford High School graduate come in to speak about career paths in the fire service for civilians,” Byam said.

The five interns also spent time learning how to fight brush fires.

“We dug a trench/line in the woods acting as if there were a fire we would need to stop,” Brooks said. “Doing this was physically challenging but very fun.”

In addition to the physical aspect of firefighting, Climo explained that communication is incredibly important.

“We worked on teamwork and being able to communicate with one another, slowly but surely learning how to become a ‘family,’” she said.

On Wednesday, May 21, all five interns successfully graduated from Chelmsford Fire Department’s cadet program.

“The students have all been great, shown a great work ethic, and hopefully have learned a ton while having a fun time doing it,” Byam said.

About Chelmsford Public Schools

The Chelmsford Public School District provides all students with multiple pathways to optimize their own potential for academic excellence, leadership, and social and emotional wellness. The mission of the Chelmsford Public Schools is to educate, engage, prepare, and empower well-rounded and knowledgeable learners to PERSEVERE through challenges, demonstrate RESPECT and INTEGRITY in their words and actions, are DEDICATED to their community, and display EMPATHY as global citizens while discovering and pursuing their full potential. This PRIDE-driven culture enables all members of the school community to support the growth and development of students. For more information, please visit www.chelmsfordschools.org.