Students are now back in school and we’re asking an important question, what helps a young person stay engaged in learning throughout the school year? Not just being present in school, but consistently curious, confident and wanting to know more.
There probably isn’t one answer to this. But, relevance can matter.
For one participant in Career Trek’s Summer Camp in Brandon, each day brought a new opportunity to try something unfamiliar, learn from professionals and discover more about the world of work.
His parent saw the impact firsthand.
It is difficult to capture in just a few words the impact Career Trek had on my son. Throughout the week, he was introduced to a wide range of career paths through hands-on activities, guest speakers, and visits to both Assiniboine College campuses in Brandon. Participants explored learning environments where future training takes place and connected with professionals from a variety of occupations.
From making ice cream in Baking Foundations, building a birdhouse in carpentry, and creating a model open mine with a civil engineering instructor, to learning traditional beading while exploring Indigenous Resource Management, each day offered new opportunities to learn and grow.
One of my son’s favourite experiences was a session led by staff from Assiniboine Credit Union Place. An industry leader spoke to the group about how an injury brought his sports career to an unexpected end and how the skills and experiences he developed as an athlete continue to shape his perspective as a member of the Finance team. He reflected on the unique experience of now contributing professionally in a building where he once spent so much time as an athlete. Participants worked together to create their own themed hockey game experience, including designing jerseys, developing concession ideas, and planning activities for fans. Through this project, they learned about the many careers that contribute to hosting major sporting events.
Every day, my son came home excited to share what he had learned. The staff created a welcoming and inclusive environment that kept participants engaged through hands-on learning, creativity, and positive energy. We are incredibly grateful for the Summer Camp West (Brandon) team and the opportunities they provided to help young people explore future education and career possibilities.
The experiences at our programs are varied, but participants share something important: an opportunity to connect learning with real people, real skills and real career possibilities.
For young people, those connections can make a difference in how learning feels.
Turning curiosity into connection
Career exploration isn’t only about asking a young person what they want to be when they grow up. Before they can begin making those decisions, they need opportunities to discover what is out there.
Participant in Brandon doing carpentry workshop.
That might mean using tools during a carpentry activity, learning how engineers approach a problem, hearing from someone working in a field they have never considered, or exploring how culture and traditional knowledge can connect with different career paths.
For this participant, those experiences continued long after the activities ended.
His parent shared that he came home each day excited to talk about what he had learned. They also described the program as a welcoming and inclusive environment that kept participants engaged through hands-on learning, creativity and positive energy.
That excitement is part of what Career Trek hopes to create.
When young people can see how the things they are learning connect to opportunities beyond the classroom, education can begin to feel more relevant. A subject is no longer simply something on a timetable—it can become a skill, an interest or a doorway to something they hadn’t imagined before.
A Reason to Look Forward
This story reflects the idea behind Career Trek’s A Reason To Look Forward campaign.
Conversations about student engagement often begin with attendance: who is in the classroom and who is not. But attendance alone cannot tell us everything about a young person’s experience.
It is also worth asking what helps students feel curious, connected and interested in what comes next.
Career Trek creates opportunities for young people to explore those questions through hands-on career experiences, mentorship and exposure to different educational and career pathways.
A birdhouse may be what comes home at the end of the day.
But along with it can come a new skill, a new question, a new interest, or simply a bigger picture of what might be possible.
And sometimes, that is where a reason to look forward begins.
Learn more about Career Trek programs and how you can support career exploration opportunities for young people across Manitoba.