Last week, Visions Online Middle School and Home School Academy 7th and 8th grade students participated in this year’s Middle School Trades Day, organized by the CIE Foundation and the Sacramento Regional Builders Exchange (SRBX). The event provided students with a full day of hands-on career exploration in the construction and skilled trades industries.
Throughout the day, students rotated through interactive stations where they were able to try real trade skills, including drilling, measuring, cement casting, and CPR training. These hands-on experiences gave students an early look at the types of skills used in construction careers and helped them see how math, problem solving, and teamwork are applied in real-world settings.
Visions Home School Academy student, Lili C., attended the event with a specific goal already in mind. As a certified scuba diver, Lili was eager to learn more about the career of underwater welding. During the event she discovered what welding apprentices typically begin earning and learned that she could even join the Welders Union starting at age 17—valuable information as she begins planning her future career pathway.
Connecting students to events like Middle School Trades Day help students discover careers and opportunities they may have never previously considered—or even knew existed. Exposure at this age can open doors and inspire students to begin thinking about their future career goals.
This event is held annually and continues to be a meaningful opportunity for students to explore the wide range of careers available in the skilled trades. A special thank you to our Online Middle School and Home School counselors who volunteered their time to chaperone and support students throughout the event.
Students who were unable to attend but are interested in learning more about construction careers may want to consider attending the McCarthy Building Companies STEMstruction event on Saturday, April 18th in Woodland, CA. While this will not be an official Visions In Education event, additional information will be shared on The Wire for those who would like to learn more.
