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Take Your Child to Work Day
Hendrix, a fifth grader at Poplar Springs School,
how to operate a mini-excavator.
PHOTOS BY WES MORGAN
Excitement filled the air as Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative welcomed employees’ children and grandchildren for Take Your Child to Work Day.
The day began with breakfast and a flag raising before children headed out for a full morning of demonstrations and hands-on activities. From bucket truck rides and mini-excavator rides to soft track rides and a bore rig demonstration, children had the chance to see—and experience—some of the equipment GCEC crews use every day.
They also learned important lessons about electrical safety through the live line trailer and watched a pole-top rescue demonstration, giving them a closer look at the skill, training and care required in their line of work.
GCEC lineworkers raise a flag to kick off the day’s activities.
Megan and Grant Hathaway are pictured with their daughter, Brynlee.
Isaac Madrid prepares his son, Beckham, to be lifted in the air in a bucket truck.
GCEC’s Marshall Kneiss and his son, Foster, wear safety vests and hard hats while watching a live line demonstration.
For GCEC employees, the event was more than a fun day at work. It was a chance to show their families what they do each day to serve the community.
“We’re like a family here, and so we’re glad to extend that today,” says Kristin Douglas, GCEC vice president of marketing and communications. “It gives them an understanding of what their parent or grandparent comes to work and does every day and how important this is to our community.”
electricity.
Children ranging in age from 4 weeks to 15 years visited different stations throughout the day, trying new skills and learning from GCEC employees. Local news stations WMBB and WJHG/WECP also stopped by to cover the event.
For Waylon Barfield, son of Safety and Training Director Cole Barfield, the bucket truck ride stood out most.
“You have fun with other kids, you meet new friends, and you do all the other things that you’ve never done before,” he said during the event. “This is awesome.”
After a busy morning, families enjoyed a pizza lunch, a visit from the ice cream truck and a photo booth to help capture the day.
With up to 50 children participating and plenty of smiles all around, GCEC officials hope Take Your Child to Work Day will become an annual tradition.
“You never know,” Douglas says. “We might have some future lineworkers here.”