Westside Elementary has one feature that Powell’s other schools do not: It’s right next to the Powell Valley Hospital helipad.

The landing zone is quite the fascination for the young students, who will run to the windows to watch helicopters land, says first grade teacher Shelby Randall. Last week, however, they got a closer look.

“I just thought it would be cool for the kids to be able to see the helicopter and know what’s happening,” Randall said.

Guardian Flight Worland Base Manager Kevin Maciha set up an opportunity for the students to see the helicopter up close and talk with paramedics and pilots on Wednesday.

Maciha knows some of the Westside teachers and was more than happy to help them provide students with a better understanding of why the helicopter arrives and how to be safe when it lands.

Guardian Flight is the largest air medical company in Wyoming. It has been active since 2011 and began providing services in the Powell and Cody area in 2017. Guardian Flight transports patients in urgent need of care that hospitals in Powell or Cody are not able to offer.

At 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, the first batch of students sat excitedly on the hill as one of Guardian Flight’s choppers circled around before safely landing at the helipad. After all the propellers had powered down, teachers escorted the students to the pad where they had the opportunity to talk with staff and sit inside the cockpit.

Students also got to ask questions about the flights and why they are important as well as see a cockpit helmet up close.

“My favorite part was to see it and the wings above it. I thought it was going to land in the school, that’d be cool and we’d have the wind all over our face and hair,” student Ashley Roemmich said.

Maciha appreciated the opportunity to talk about safety with the students but also appreciated the opportunity to remind the community that Guardian Flight is an active community member.