Mike Suckenik first wanted to become a firefighter when he was 14-years-old. What sparked his interest was a youth exploring program at the Richland Township Fire Department.

“I signed up on my 14th birthday and I immediately got hooked. I started doing calls and training. Started learning different aspects of the job. I fell in love with it, so I figured that’s what I want to do for my career,” said Captain Mike Suckenik from the Richland Fire Department.

Richland firefighters and Johnstown police run two programs in Cambria County, but soon, there could be more.

Tim McClure works for the Boy Scouts of America, which runs the exploring programs. He’s been reaching out to schools to see which programs students would be interested in joining.

The Youth Exploring Programs are offered to both girls and boys 11 to 20-years-old. They get kids interested in jobs as first responders, engineers and other trades.

“Some students don’t even know what they want to do. So that’s the trick, is getting a program that’s exciting that might spark an interest also,” said McClure, the District Director of the Laurel Highlands Council for the Boy Scouts of America.

Now, the first step to starting more explorer programs is sending out surveys to kids in the area to see what kind of careers they’d be interested in.

Suckenik hopes other students join exploring programs because he knows firsthand the impact they can have.

“Literally, it meant everything to me. It got me into the fire service. I got my start here and ultimately it made me into who I am. I would have never really known about this field or gotten my career if it wasn’t for here in the program,” Suckenik said.