DIXON — The 47th Region Education Office has announced the return of its annual Pathway Playground event, which offers a day of career exploration to eighth-graders in Lee, Ogle and Whiteside counties.
This year’s event will be held at Sauk Valley Community College on Friday, Oct. 18. More than 1,000 students are expected to attend.
( 2023 Pathway Playground gives eighth graders a taste of embalming and engineering )
Pathway Playground gives students the opportunity to connect with local businesses and explore a wide range of career paths. Last year, over 70 businesses participated, showcasing their industries through interactive activities. This year, we aim to have at least 100 businesses participate, providing an even wider range of career exploration opportunities.
“We are excited to continue the success of Pathway Playground,” said Chanda McDonnell, pathway navigator for ROE No. 47. “This is a fantastic opportunity for students to gain hands-on experience in their own community and learn about exciting careers.”
Past activities include:
Installing a window on a garage door (Construction). Reporting the weather using a green screen (Media and Communications). Learning how to navigate a roundabout (Transportation).
These activities are just a few examples of the diverse career clusters students will encounter at Pathway Playground.
Manufacturing industry.
Health sciences.
Agriculture.
information technology.
Arts and communication.
Human and public services.
Business and finance.
The ROE No. 47 Pathways team is actively seeking businesses from Lee, Ogle and Whiteside counties to participate in the event. Businesses interested in showcasing their careers to the next generation of talent should contact McDonnell at cmcdonnell@roe47.org or Heather Wanninger at hwaninger@roe47.org by September 30th.