Dangling from the ceiling of the local firehouse in a complex rope harness is one unique way to learn about the services your community provides to its residents.

At least one young man did that recently as part of the new Junior Leadership Program conducted by the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance. It is a series of classes intended to teach juniors in high school about all the interesting and important aspects of the town they live in. In addition to giving them knowledge, the program also strives to inspire them to be proud of their community and, eventually, take a leadership role in it.

The program is based on a leadership program the Growth Alliance has conducted since 2005 for adults. That initiative has proven highly successful at cultivating future leaders. Jill Nelson, the alliance’s community development director, decided to create a version for teenagers.

“We thought, why not take the same concept and make a greater impact in the community utilizing that same structure and that’s where the idea for the high school program came about,” Nelson told The Messenger.

Participants in the program will learn about economic development, recreation, arts and culture, health care and public safety, local government and civic engagement.

The most recent session was on health care and public safety. It included a visit to the Fort Dodge Fire Department. Rope rescues are relatively rare around Fort Dodge, but the firefighters still need the equipment and know-how to perform them. So that’s how Thomas Cosgrove ended up dangling from the ceiling.

He is one of 19 local high school students taking part in the Junior Leadership Program. The group includes 14 from Fort Dodge Senior High School and five from St. Edmond High School.

The students are not paying anything for this experience, thanks to donations from local businesses.

The program will conclude in the spring.

This new Junior Leadership Program seems like an ideal way to get teenagers more connected to their community. We thank Jill Nelson for organizing it, and we thank the local businesses that are supporting it financially.

And perhaps most importantly, we congratulate the 19 high school students who decided to get involved. We’re betting that this group will be doing lots of good things for the community in the future.