Nashoba Cadet EMT Program

Letter to the Editor April 18, 2025  

Bolton voters and Nashoba students may not be aware that the Nashoba Cadet EMT Program may be canceled by the town if the upcoming override fails.  The Cadet EMT Program is unique in Massachusetts, and was founded in 1988 to assist with ambulance coverage when the Town of Bolton had daytime coverage shortages.  With a waiver from the state that allows EMT certification at age 16 ½, the Cadet Program provides opportunities for 30+ students each year, to acquire leadership skills and to learn the value of community service. In its 37 years, the more than 500 students have proven to be role models for their fellow students and continue to provide medical skills to the community. Many former Cadets are medical doctors, flight nurses, paramedics, or EMTs at Children’s Hospital, UMass Medical, and Bolton, Stow, and Lancaster Fire or Police departments to name a few.  Even for those who did not go into medical careers, the Cadet Program empowered students to dramatically increase their confidence in assuming adult roles.  

Nashoba Regional values the program and provides academic credit to the students in the Program, and their budget includes about 43% of Cadet Program costs.  In fact, the new high school design will include a simulated ambulance interior and dedicated training space to support the Cadet EMT Program.

In addition to being funded and led by the Bolton Fire Department and Nashoba Regional, the Cadet Program is supported and coordinated by a volunteer Advisory Board that includes present and former town and school officials as well as present and former instructors and medical advisors.  A former Bolton volunteer ambulance leader has made a very generous donation, funding the car Cadets now used to respond to ambulance calls.  There continues to be wide support of the program in the three Nashoba towns. The Bolton Fire Department helps provide a teaching and mentoring role for the Cadet EMTs. Funding the $19,372 Cadet Program budget needs all Bolton voters to approve the override so that the Cadet EMT Program can continue.

Cadet EMT Advisory Board 

(made up of representatives of the school district, the Bolton Fire Dept, current EMT continuing ed instructors, 2 Cadets each from Year 3 and Year 2 classes, and former town officials)