Fifth Grade Goes To Work

Typical fifth grade field trips usually involve a trip to the zoo or a musical performance, but The Partnership For Our Kids has put a career exploration twist on this tradition to inspire more students to start thinking about their future profession possibilities.

This spring, fifth grade students in the Partnership’s goal-setting program toured the twelve local corporations where their goal buddies work. “The students who participate in career exploration discover the day-to-day activities involved with a particular career as well as the type of education necessary as well as its job market outlook for the future,” says Goal Setting Program Director, Beth Smith. Smith adds that using the corporations where goal buddies work as the student field trip destinations is also another way that the students can come to better understand more about who their goal buddies are outside of the classroom.

Program Coordinator, Kris Morgan believes these field trips have been eye-opening experiences for many of the students. “While visiting Union Pacific, one student said he wanted to work on motors when grew up. The student was thrilled to hear that Union Pacific has a need for machinists and mechanics,” she said. “Now he has a lead on a possible career that he may never had considered before.”

The companies that the students toured include: Carlson Hospitality, Center Trophy, Douglas County Youth Center, First Comp, Leo A. Daly, Metro Community College, Mutual of Omaha, Omaha World Herald, OPPD, Union Pacific and Wells Fargo.
Students in the Partnership’s mentoring program will also soon be diving into career exploration field trips and workshops as part of the organization’s summer programming. Summer tours will include Offutt Airforce Base, Rotella’s Italian Bakery, the Nebraska Humane Society, and many others.

For upcoming tour and workshop details visit our online events calendar or check out our events page postings as more information becomes available.