Kristin Smith, a process engineer at Small Mountain Quarry, told a group of wide-eyed fourth-graders from Rice Elementary School that the math, science and reading she learned in grade school helped her choose a career in engineering.

“And I really love rocks!” she said.

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Smith was one of dozens of Slusser Brothers employees who hosted the 130 school children on the day-long tour of Small Mountain Quarry.  The employees explained how the quarry operates and discussed career opportunities at the quarry as engineers, equipment operators, truck drivers and maintenance employees.

At the belt press building, Smith was joined by Shawn Maslo, a belt press operator, and Todd Smith (no relation), a maintenance manager.  They explained how the quarry conserves thousands of gallons of water every day by recycling it through the belt press machines.

“Water is a precious resource, and we are being environmentally conscience and responsible by re-using the water through our water recycling process,” she said.

The tour of Small Mountain Quarry was the final event of a week-long education program called “RockMan,” sponsored by Pennsy Supply, the parent company of Slusser Brothers.  The goal of RockMan is to teach the next generation about the aggregate industry and the jobs that are available in the industry.

The nationally recognized program not only benefits students but helps educators meet grade-level requirements.  RockMan uses basic core curriculum subjects through designed lesson plans in mathematics, reading, science, social studies, art, physical education, music and writing skills development – each of which present a specific concept related to the aggregate industry.

At the quarry, the students were divided into four groups to learn about water conservation, geological formations, heavy equipment and quality control.  The students were issued hard hats, vests and safety goggles that they could take home.  They rode in school buses to the different stations throughout the quarry.

In between the classes, the students were treated to a lunch of sloppy joes, hotdogs, macaroni and cheese, nachos, cake and lemonade.  The lunch was served by Slusser Brothers employees, many wearing their safety equipment and hard hats.

Patrick Bartorillo, the general manager, showed the students the top and the bottom of the quarry.  He explained the types of sedimentary rocks and how they formed in layers.  Stanley Witinski, shop procurement officer, and Charlotte Gerhard, construction administrative assistant, showed the students how to fill vials with colored sand to teach them about the rock layers.

Joe Dodson, a salesman for Slusser Brothers, explained how the quarry on the northside of Small Mountain Road will be reclaimed with topsoil, grass and trees.  The current quarry site is scheduled to exhaust its materials in the next few years and will close.

Dave Johnson, an equipment manager, took the students on a tour of the heavy equipment.  He asked the students to guess the weight of the huge tires for the haul trucks and let them take their turns behind the wheel of one of trucks.

“This is cool!” said one fourth-grader as he examined the equipment.

A highlight of the visit for the students was making their own “road” using darkened Rice Krispies.  They rolled the road onto wax paper to form the road, let it set and then proceeded to eat it.  The students didn’t know that aggregate could taste so good.

Slusser Brothers is northeastern Pennsylvania’s leading supplier of aggregate, sand and asphalt.  Serving the region for more than 40 years, Slusser Brothers operates two quarries, one sand-and-gravel facility, three asphalt plants and two crushing facilities.  Slusser Brothers employs more than 150 workers at the Small Mountain Quarry.

General Manager Patrick Bartorillo shows the students how the rock layers were formed.

Project Manager Russ Banta helps students make Rice Krispies road cookies.

Ronnie D'Angelo serves hotdogs to the students.

Sales Manager Joe Dodson discusses reclamation.

Students guess the weight of a truck tire.

Students learn about heavy equipment.

Students take turns driving the truck.