Schools to Tools Mobile Field Trip allows students to experience skilled trades

UTICA/STERLING HEIGHTS/SHELBY TOWNSHIP — Utica Community Schools took a field trip into the world of skilled trades and all the opportunities it has to offer.

The Schools to Tools Mobile Field Trip featured hands-on challenges and virtual experiences that let Stevenson High School students experience skilled trades Nov. 21. Stevenson is the 100th school to participate in the mobile field trip, which is a program of the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters and Millwrights.

Geoff Clark, the Utica Community Schools director of career and technical education, said it was important for Stevenson students to experience the Schools to Tools mobile field trip because it introduces the students to a career path that is best taught through hands-on experiences.

“Students walk away from the experience with a competitive advantage: The student learns what it takes to get into the field of carpentry or millwrights, what the job looks and feels like, potential salary and benefits, and what their next best step might be after graduation,” he said.

Janet Gendelman, Stevenson and Henry Ford II school to work coordinator, said Manufacturing, Automation and Design Engineering program students, Ford II and Stevenson construction trades students and Stevenson advanced automotive students took part. In total, approximately 165 students experienced the field trip.

“The students seemed to really enjoy the field trip and learning about the different career opportunities in the trades. I attended a professional development at their training center in Detroit where I learned about the field trip. I knew that this would be a great opportunity for our students after seeing the incredible training facility. The field trip is also scheduled for Henry Ford II in the spring. It was at Eisenhower last year, and the Eisenhower CTE students are going to the training center this school year,” she said.

She said she was very excited to be able to share a variety of career pathways with the students.

“As a CTE teacher, I am passionate about connecting the classroom to the real world and giving our students the opportunity to see a variety of career paths,” she said.

Schools to Tools aims to provide students, parents, teachers and school counselors with the information, training and hands-on experiences they need to make informed career decisions.

For more information on the Schools to Tools Mobile Field Trip, visit schoolstotools.org/mobile-field-trip.