Summer 2024 brings exciting happenings to BGCCI’s career pathways programming including internships, employer partner field trips, college visits, and VR technology.
This year we are excited to be able to host thirteen high school members through our Launch Your Future internship. These teens participated in a rigorous application and interview process before being offered a position in this seven-week, paid internship.
Throughout the internship, the participants will explore in-demand careers, gain hands-on experience, begin building connections with employers, and earn certifications including OSHA10 and CPR, aimed at boosting employability prospects. The addition of four new VR headsets loaded with hundreds of career exploration modules and in-depth simulations will continue to add to a more engaging, and authentic learning experience for our teen members. These headsets are in hot demand and will be rotating throughout our teen sites.
Another big step for Career Pathways was the success in being approved to be a Skip the Trip site through the Iowa DOT. As a registered Skip the Trip location, our trained Club staff are able to administer the written knowledge test required to obtain a driver’s permit for youth under the age of 18. This allows teens an opportunity to take their test on their own schedule and in a familiar setting. We closed out the school year by hosting a Skip the Trip Day at Merrill Middle School where five teens were successful in obtaining their driver’s permit.
Teen Clubs will be busy getting off-site this summer with weekly college visits and employer partner field trips. Our middle and high school students will have the chance to tour campuses like DMACC, Drake, Iowa State, UNI, and Iowa School of Beauty and ask questions or participate in activities with current students. They will get to visit employers in a variety of industries including finance, energy, construction, food and beverage, hospitality, and marketing to do some hands-on learning and networking.
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