PEMBINA, N.D. – The Area Port of Pembina sponsored “Bring Your Child to Work Day” on May 14 at the Port of Pembina, North Dakota. Forty-three boys and girls, ages 13-14, from the North Border School District attended the event accompanied by their teachers.
Walhalla 7th and 8th graders tour Pembina Port
“The day was very educational and provided the students with a better understanding of the work performed by CBP and other Federal agencies,” said Area Port Director Mary Delaquis. “The hands-on experience provided today hopefully sparked the interest of some of these students into future positions in CBP or public service later in life.”
The day started at the Pembina Community Center with a welcome from Supervisory Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officer Michael Rude. The students were separated into three groups and then each group attended the various demonstrations.
Highlights from the day’s activities included presentations from the following agencies: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Department of Agriculture Veterinarian Services and CBP Agriculture.
CBP firearms training officers talked about the different firearms CBP officers are trained to use in the course of their duties. The students were allowed to handle all three different firearms that had been rendered safe by the firearms instructors. The session ended with the students firing training firearms that emit a laser at special targets.
CBP K-9 demonstration
The students also received a tour of the Pembina Port of Entry, which included a demonstration of CBP’s non-intrusive technology and also a practical exercise where the students were given an opportunity to search a vehicle loaded with mock contraband. The day ended with a demonstration by CBP’s narcotics detection dog “Grey.”
Supervisory CBP Officer Michael Rude thanked everyone for attending the event and presented all the students with a small gift package for the ride home on the school bus.