Students connect with climate experts for credit

BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) — The next generation of meteorologists gets a glimpse of where the magic happens.

Meteorologist Peter Kvietkauskas’ recent tour with a group of budding meteorologists took place during Channel 3’s noon show.

Meteorologist Allison Black breaks down the forecast, while off camera, dozens of eager teens watch intently.

“It’s really cool to see the background of how they make those productions that are just on TV,” said Lillian Aiken of White River Valley High School.

Aiken has grown up watching the news at her grandma’s house.

Last week, she and a group from the Governor’s Institutes of Vermont got a front row seat.

“I feel like everybody who’s here just really wants to do something with weather or climate, whether it’s being a reporter for stuff or being a meterologist,” said Aiken.

They’re part of the new weather and Climate Science Institute that aims to prepare teens to tackle climate change.

It connects kids with climate experts, college credits, forecast and presentation practice, and visits to job sites like Channel 3.

“Just learning what weather is caused by what and how it affects different things in day to day life is really interesting,” said Camille Woods of Rutland High School.

As Vermont faces unprecedented storms, program leader and professor Ari Preston who taught our Jess Langlois and Peter Kvietkauskas says careers in science are more pressing than ever.

“I think it’s really important for students to see when they turn on the TV, where this information’s coming from…They get a sense for the time and effort they put into their forecast,” said Ari Preston of Vermont State University.

On the set, a future in forecasting felt a little more real.

“All of the behind the scenes was really so cool, especially like the green screen. I’ve always been curious about, like, what’s that really like? It’s just awesome to see the news anchors as real people, and not just these perfect TV people,” said Woods.

Who knows, they just might be forecasting the weather on your screen in a few years.

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