Jenna Waugh, 18, center, a law enforcement student at Oxford Hills Technical School, shows middle schoolers how to ice fish Wednesday, Feb. 26, on Lake Pennesewassee in Norway. A.M. Sheehan/Advertiser Democrat

OXFORD HILLS — Roland Godbout, Career and Technical Education Law Enforcement instructor for Oxford Hills Technical School, doesn’t just teach his students about law and policing techniques, he develops them as mentors and to make community service their motivation.

Jenna Waugh, 18, center, a law enforcement student at Oxford Hills Technical School, drops the baited hook into the hole Wednesday, Feb. 26, on Lake Pennesewassee in Norway. A.M. Sheehan/Advertiser Democrat

Godbout said he began this journey by developing an instructional program with Chelsea Lathrop, educator with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife, they called “Hooked on fishing, not drugs”. The program, he said, “instructs students to get certified to teach different aspects of fishing with a concept of, let’s go fish, hike, enjoy the outdoors and not get involved with drugs.”

Eventually, he said, he invited Outdoor Recreation CTE program’s Andrew Merrill and Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School STEM program educators Tina Fox and Luc Roy, who now teach the program in their classes.

“Middle school students enjoy the day and get to meet high school students who are their mentors,” Godbout said. This enables the middle school students to be more comfortable when they transition to high school next year.

“The IFW supports the events by having volunteers bring state ice fishing gear, and donations of bait are from Rob’s Bait Co.,” he said. “In the end, the community has made several comments about how nice it is to see the kids doing events like this. Norway’s Little Red Schoolhouse is maintained by the OHTS Outdoor Program and supports outdoor learning as well as a safe warming area with access to its facilities.”

This year during the Feb. 26 event, Norway Police K9 Unit Officer John Lewis and K-9 BOLO joined them with the department’s drone to film from above.

Norway police K9 Unit Officer John Lewis, foreground, controls a drone photographing students ice fishing Feb. 26 on Norway Lake. A.M. Sheehan/Advertiser Democrat

Godbout said they had nearly 80 seventh graders on the ice Feb. 12 and over 80 came out last Wednesday.

According to participants it was a great day. Not so great perhaps for two bass and a yellow perch.