The Batavia BOCES Building Trades program spent the last year building an obstacle course designed for law enforcement agencies to use to train K-9 teams. The Building Trades instructors and students had a hand in creating all of the obstacles and custom-built a 12' x 12' shed that will be utilized by the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office. 

The Building Trades team Instructors Jared Radesi, Kelly Mileham, and Scott Henahan started taking meetings in May 2021 with Genesee County Undersheriff Bradley Mazur to discuss the feasibility of the project. 

The design, material, layout, and construction were all donated by local businesses, which also included different grants to complete the project. One of the challenges of a project this size was getting the funding to purchase the needed materials, and to have the materials before students started leaving for the summer.

Students were given an opportunity to develop crucial skills needed for the trade industry. Also, they were able to be a part of something that mattered to the community, and use their skills to give back to the community that will be used for many years. Instructor Scott Henahan stated, “training is continuous, it is the key point of having an emergency response unit that is ready and capable to serve the community. At one point or another everyone in the county will benefit from this project.”

This project reinforced the knowledge and skills students need to enter the workforce. They were able to practice and master the manipulation tasks of handling tools and materials. Mimicking a real-life construction site gave students the best way possible to help them become career-ready. "Our students will be better prepared to be a viable part of our future workforce. The work they do now, and in the future, will affect the lives of all that are, and will be connected to the work they do", said Henahan.