The combined effort of eager-to-work students, site trainers, and community partners ignites a variety of valuable learning and work experiences.
Here's an example where four amazing students from LHS and MCC and one dedicated work site trainer from West Shore ESD worked together this summer to build employability skills and stamina while improving the Ludington State Park.
The Department of Natural Resources, Michigan Rehabilitation Services, and the West Shore ESD partnered in business and education to offer students a chance to work at the state park for eight weeks. The summer work motto was “Work Hard .Have Fun, Make Money!”
(Chris, Marvee, Kayleigh, and Shyann worked hard to help keep our parks clean)
Students learned to work as a team, follow directions, communicate effectively, problem-solve, and persevere.
Job duties included cleaning fire rings, trash pickup, beach cleanup, maintaining park walking and hiking trails, raking, laying wood chips, assembling picnic tables, and painting.
Not only was this an important part of building employability skills it added a valuable work experience to their resumes increasing their success for future employment references.
(The views were amazing from the Big Sable Point Lighthouse)
When asked, “What is the best part about working at the state park?” students said: “Getting to see nature and how pretty it is, especially in the morning,” and “Seeing nature and getting to take pictures of it.” They also expressed appreciation for the teamwork and how they helped one another.
Thank you to our community partners for providing the opportunity for our students and thank you to our students and our work site trainer for participating in the summer work program!