High school students interested in learning more about the Explorer Academy are invited to an open house Thursday, Aug. 31, from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Warren County Ambulance District Base 4 at 99 Bell Road in Wright City.The Warren County Ambulance District’s Explorer Academy gives students an opportunity to explore the emergency medical services career path. It is a work site based program designed to enhance career awareness and leadership.Students are required to complete 48 hours of classroom instruction and hands-on training and 24 hours of mandatory community service hours.Academy students attend meetings, training sessions, elect officers and participate in interactive, career-based activities. They go on emergency call ride-a-longs.The Warren County Ambulance District Board of Directors, employees and management are extremely community focused, said Ralph Hellebusch, administrator of the Warren County Ambulance District.“Having this program serves many purposes, most importantly the students as they have a chance to experience the EMS field and find out if they are really cut out for this or not,” he said.“Some have only been in the program a few weeks and decided it is not for them. Others have thrived and pushed on very quickly to become state certified and employees of the district.”The Explorer Academy program accepts applications from any high school student who lives in Warren County.This is the sixth year Warren County Ambulance District has hosted an Explorer Academy. The ambulance district launched the program in 2012, granting Warren County the bragging rights in the state of Missouri as the first county to have an Explorers group in all three areas of emergency response: fire, EMS and law enforcement.“This (program) is good for the community as they know the area and know the people,” Hellebusch said. “Everyone here at the district feels this is a win-win for everyone involved.”More than 50 high school students in Warren County have shown interest in the program and 26 students have graduated as certified emergency medical responders with skill objectives outlined by the American Safety and Health Institute.This certification gives students interested in an EMS career an advantage into a state certification as an emergency medical technician.Community service programs for the students have included support for Warren County BackStoppers, Pink Heals Tour, Festival of Fun, Warren County Fair, Strassenbash Festival, Warren County Relay For Life, Tribute to Veterans Memorial, Adopt-A-Highway program and help with the flag display at the Wright City Cemetery’s Avenue of Flags throughout the year.The program advisers and instructors are all employees of Warren County Ambulance District and include two current EMTs employed by the Ambulance District that are Explorer Academy graduates.For more information call 636-456-8413, ext. 2, or look for Warren County Ambulance District Explorer Program on Facebook.Explorer AcademyAdam Desemone