During a recent government meeting, the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) introduced a new initiative aimed at engaging local high school students in county operations. The program, which marks the first of its kind for Pickering County, features six interns from various local high schools, including Aspen, Basalt, Roaring Fork, and Glenwood.

The interns, who will shadow different departments over the course of a month, were presented to the commissioners, with each student sharing their school affiliation and the department they will be working with. Trevin Ward, a rising senior at Aspen High School, is interning with the airport operations department, while Khalil, also from Aspen, is working in finance. Thomas, another Aspen student, is interning with the IT department, and Ava from Roaring Fork is assisting at the senior center.

The program aims to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of county government operations, culminating in a presentation at the end of the month where they will share their experiences and learnings. The initiative reflects a commitment to fostering civic engagement among youth and providing them with practical insights into local governance.