Summer Fun: Career Camp and Academy For “At Risk” Middle School Students

Putting it Together and Making it Work Partnerships Anoka Technical College Anoka Technical College Anoka-Hennepin District 11 STEP Anoka-Hennepin District 11 STEP Anoka-Hennepin District 11 Middle Schools Anoka-Hennepin District 11 Middle Schools

The middle school staff approached STEP and ATC about developing a short summer experience for their “at risk” summer school students that would give students hands-on career exploration. They recognized the need for students to make the connection between how their performance at school and the life choices they are making now affect their opportunities in the future. They wanted students to see the options available to them in high school as well as post secondary opportunities. Career Camp

2000 One middle school 120 students Two mornings Six career choices 2001 Six middle schools 259 students Three mornings Ten career choices 2002 Six middle schools 300 students Three mornings Ten career choices Parent component 2003 Six middle schools 415 students Fours mornings Eleven career choices 2004 Two middle schools 105 students One morning Nine career choices

Pathways to Success

Auto Service Small Gas Engines Auto Service Small Gas Engines

Machine Technology Welding Mechanical Drafting

ArchitectureCarpentry Electrical Careers

Landscape and Horticulture Careers

Aviation Careers

Medical Assistant Surgical Technician Optical Technician Emergency Medical Technician Nursing Careers

Child Care Firefighting Law Enforcement Child Care Firefighting Law Enforcement

Electronics Careers Information Technology Computer Science

Media Technology Art Technology Media Technology Art Technology

Restaurant and Bakery Careers

Planning Process Meet with partners in February Meet with partners in February Assign roles in the planning process Assign roles in the planning process Middle school contact person Middle school contact person STEP contact person STEP contact person ATC contact person ATC contact person Brainstorm career areas to be taught Brainstorm career areas to be taught Discuss modifications—what worked and what didn’t the previous year Discuss modifications—what worked and what didn’t the previous year Identify funding sources ( Perkins Tech Prep Grant, School-to-Work Federal Grant, Private Industry) Identify funding sources ( Perkins Tech Prep Grant, School-to-Work Federal Grant, Private Industry)

STEP Contact Person Planning & Preparation for the Day Recruit teachers Recruit teachers Develop schedule Develop schedule Dates Dates Times Times Career choices Career choices Assign classrooms and labs Assign classrooms and labs Communicate, communicate, communicate plans to partners Communicate, communicate, communicate plans to partners

Career Camp Staff Planning & Preparation for the Day Develop a 45 minute session for students Develop a 45 minute session for students Hands-on Hands-on Applied academics Post secondary and employment information Order supplies Order supplies Prepare classroom/lab for session Prepare classroom/lab for session

Middle School Staff Planning & Preparation for the Day Determine which grade levels of students they plan to send to Career Camp Determine which grade levels of students they plan to send to Career Camp Make busing arrangements Make busing arrangements Assist students in class selection process Assist students in class selection process Get permission slips Get permission slips Assign students to each class so that there are no more than students per session Assign students to each class so that there are no more than students per session Have students make name tags with their name and session I and session II selections Have students make name tags with their name and session I and session II selections

STEP Contact Person’s Responsibilities at Career Camp Post career choice signs in common area Post career choice signs in common area Greet middle school students and staff Greet middle school students and staff Troubleshoot Troubleshoot Take pictures Take pictures Talk to students at general session Talk to students at general session Collect evaluations Collect evaluations Arrange payment of instructors Arrange payment of instructors Analyze feedback from students and staff Analyze feedback from students and staff

Career Camp Staff Responsibilities at Career Camp Meet students in common area Meet students in common area Instruct students in career activity Instruct students in career activity Have students complete evaluations at the end of each session Have students complete evaluations at the end of each session Return students to common area after each session Return students to common area after each session

Middle School Staff Responsibilities at Career Camp Take attendance Take attendance Distribute name tags Distribute name tags Ride the bus with the students Ride the bus with the students Help students find their correct session Help students find their correct session Attend session and assist the instructor as needed Attend session and assist the instructor as needed Deal with discipline issues Deal with discipline issues Make sure all students get on the bus Make sure all students get on the bus

Career Camp Schedule 8:20Arrive at STEP building 8:25Meet session I students and travel to classroom/lab. 8:30-9:15Session I (Have students complete an evaluation at end of session.) 9:15-9:20Travel to next session (Go to STEP link to ATC to exchange students.) 9:20-10:05Session II (Have students complete an evaluation at end of session.) 10:05-10:15Travel to general session (Take time for a bathroom break on the way.) 10:15-10:30General Session in ATC auditorium 10:35Depart from ATC door A1

Welcome to Career Camp!

Finding Your Career Session

Horticulture Horticulture

Emergency Medical Careers

Cosmetology Careers

Art Technology

Firefighting Careers

Auto Service Careers

Surgical Technology

Aviation Careers

Law Enforcement

The choices you make now are important!

Non-traditional Career Academy Based on the success of Career Camp, a request was made by the middle school staff to pilot a program that would allow students to get more extensive experience in a variety of career areas. The target group was at-risk eighth grade girls who were selected for the program by the middle school staff. The emphasis was on non-traditional careers while incorporating applied academics with the hands-on activities.

2003 Two middle schools Two middle schools 15 students 15 students 13 mornings 13 mornings Seven career choices Seven career choices 2004 Six middle schools Six middle schools 10 students 10 students 11 mornings 11 mornings Six career choices Six career choices

Law Enforcement

Welding

Fire Fighting

Landscape Careers

Small Engine Repair

Emergency Medical Careers

See you next year!

Students’ Feedback What did you like best about the activities? Art— “ Using the computer and making a magnet”, “All the different ways we can make it cool” Auto— “ Taking the tires off the car”, “Got to use the air tools” Aviation— “ Making the plane”, “Flying the plane” Cosmetology— “ This was really cool to learn about nails”, “Everything”

Emergency—“The fake cuts and bruises”, “The whole thing” Firefighting—“Learning about firefighting”, “Putting out the fires was really cool” Horticulture—“It was really fun learning how to make a boutonnière”, “Trying to wire flowers” Law Enforcement—“Finding clues, everything”, “You get to do a crime scene and solve it” Surgical Tech—“How everything was done!”

Patti Gudmundson Guidance Counselor Pam Durand Career Center Coordinator Presentation produced by… Our Students are Our Future! Anoka-Hennepin District 11