FARMINGTON -- Wednesday morning, eighth-grade students from Mt. Blue Middle School had the rare opportunity to experience what the Foster Technology Center at Mt. Blue High School is all about.

Students signed up to learn more about two courses of interest, director of the center, Glenn Kapiloff said. Some of the courses of study the middle school students experienced include firefighting, forestry, metal fabrication, drafting, commercial arts, early child care and high performance composites.

Kapiloff explained the programs being introduced to the students would be available to them at the beginning of their junior year.

"It's a look ahead concept," Kapiloff said. "Some students become disengaged. Showing them what is here pulls them in."

Most of the programs offered through the center require 350 hours of study to complete, Kapiloff said. Some of the courses, such as John McDonald's High Performance Composites, have rigorous academic requirements, he said.

Students must use their ninth and 10th grade schedules wisely in order to be academically prepared.

"If they don't plan well for ninth and 10th grade, they won't have enough time in their schedule to participate in the programs we offer here", Kapiloff said.

Sean Moore, 14, of Wilton, visited both the firefighting program and metal fabrication. He also attended a demonstration by the High Performance Composites when they visited Mt. Blue Middle School in Farmington.

"I attended the metal fabrication and composites because I am interested in engineering", Moore said. "I am interested going to Foster Tech when it is available to me".

When they arrived, the students were divided into manageable groups. Each group met with the course instructor as well as junior and senior students from the program who had volunteered to assist in the orientation.

Students were able to hear about the course curriculum, ask questions and experience, first hand what goes on at the center.

"This is not a tour", Kapiloff said. "It is very hands on. Our motto is 'learn by doing.'"