Career Ready PA is working to ensure Pennsylvania families are thinking about the future.
From take-home terrariums to a masterclass in circuitry, it’s no secret that there are endless ways to have a blast during Remake Learning Days. These events are designed with kids in mind. Participants are bound to discover new interests—but could those become a career?
That’s one of the program’s goals, says Laura Fridirici, a Pennsylvania Department of Education career readiness advisor. “It is never too early to learn about a career or skill,” she says. Even preschoolers learn about future careers by observing the world around them. “For example, if taking a child to the doctor, parents can explain what skills a healthcare provider uses in their job.” They’ve taken that approach and used it to weave career readiness into every facet of Remake Learning Days.
Fridici and her team encourage families across the state to think about future work when engaging in the hundreds of activities offered by Remake Learning Days this spring. These events are chock-full of dynamic learning experiences created to induce excitement in young learners.
Some of these events are held at schools where children get to participate as a class, like the Clarion-Limestone School District’s Agricultural Day. Students in the Life Skills program will get a chance to learn about careers related to gardening and food systems as part of their school day. There are also opportunities for nontraditional learners to think about future work. On May 14, the Bloomsburg Children’s Museum will host a Homeschool Hangout to explore the Susquehanna River. Kids and their families will learn about stream health, local flora and fauna, and potential careers in Pennsylvania’s amazing outdoor spaces.
To make career exploration even more accessible, Remake Learning Days offers virtual opportunities like SLB Radio’s “Streaming the Future.” This event, on May 13, will include a live conversation with Pennsylvania teens about their goals, hopes, and visions for themselves—and society as a whole.
Many Remake Learning Day events are designed for children and their caregivers to attend together, like the Discover Scuba event at Pittsburgh’s Kingsley Center. Teens and grown-ups not only get a chance to try scuba diving in the center’s indoor pool, but they get to learn about careers related to marine science, conservation efforts, and even careers in public safety—divers are often part of important recovery missions when there is a disaster.
For some teens, this may be the first time they connect their love of aquatics to future career fields, but Fridici says that’s the goal. She highlights one event from last year’s Remake Learning Days, where a parent and child shared a project they created using a model of Mount Everest and a pulley climber system. This type of real-life, hands-on learning is more engaging than simply reading about potential careers—it brings it to life for participants.
“The Pennsylvania Department of Education collaborates with other state agencies to share outdoor learning and educational programs through other state agencies,” says Fridici. This includes the Department of Agriculture (link to other piece) and the Pennsylvania State Park system, as well as other community stakeholders. Remake Learning Days is one way these organizations connect with kids who are exploring future careers, but there are also summer opportunities for work-based learning as kids approach adulthood. It’s all part of a statewide initiative to help youth explore career options in a robust way. The Career Ready PA Coalition is focused on providing those experiences, from toddlerhood until graduation.
“It is important to highlight everyday interactions and experiences to show how the skills we use every day,” says Fridici. “Teamwork, critical thinking, and communication are the foundation for skills needed in careers and life. Don’t miss the opportunities!”
While it’s never too early to think about career exploration, here are a few more Remake Learning Days events designed to get teens thinking about future work.
May 13: Trailblazers Academy – Charting New Paths with Entrepreneurship
This workshop is designed for high schoolers who are curious about founding a business or pursuing a career in entrepreneurship. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the folks at 5 Tribe Vending & Consulting will teach kids about local small businesses, developing their “elevator pitch,” and turning their passions into a viable career. This is a drop-in event, but RSVPs are appreciated for planning purposes.
May 15: Diving into Marine Science – Exploring Coral Restoration and Conservation Careers
This virtual event is geared towards high school students who may be interested in marine biology and ecological preservation. From 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., students will hear from experts at the Curious Minds Dive Foundation and the Islamorada Conservation and Restoration Education about their efforts to protect coral reefs. The discussion will cover how reefs are formed, why their health is important to the planet, and what human actions threaten these reefs. Registration is suggested for this event.
This event, while centered on women in the STEM field, is open to any interested students. From 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the South Hills School of Business & Technology’s Altoona Campus, participants will hear from experts in cybersecurity, software engineering, cloud, and information technology. They will have a chance to ask questions about career readiness and future endeavors. This is a drop-in event.
If your family is looking to learn more about agriculture during Remake Learning Days, check out the full schedule of events here.