Local High Schoolers Build Career Skills at BDCC’s Summer Internship Bootcamp
With the help of a grant from the Vermont Department of Labor, the Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation has been running a Summer Internship program that includes a four-day career education “Bootcamp” for participants. The Bootcamps are being conducted by Christy Betit, BDCC’s Pipelines and Pathways Program Coordinator, who works year-round in Windham County schools providing career education trainings and experiences.
At the beginning of August, a Bootcamp just for high-schoolers was held at the Brattleboro Boys and Girls Club. Thirty local high-schoolers and recent grads took part, building resumes, practicing interview skills and learning about today’s job market. Kids also got to meet with representatives of the local workforce and education ecosystem; Leigh Marthe from the Community College of Vermont, Ed Merrill from the Vermont Department of Labor, and Holly Hammond from the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation.
HR and Operations Directors from New Chapter and C&S Wholesale Grocers were also on-hand to talk about local career opportunities. Students were surprised to learn that careers at New Chapter weren’t simply about filling bottles with vitamins and careers at C&S didn’t only entail shipping groceries. These are big local employers with national reach, and jobs that range from marketing and accounting to logistics and distribution.
One student, Zoe Chaffin, who’s interested in drawing, was surprised to learn that each business had a graphic design department. Owen Guminak was intrigued by the high demand and earning potential of commercial drivers at C&S and across the nation. And Kory Stenn who’s interested in STEM-related careers, was impressed by New Chapter’s focus on caring for its employees and the environment as a certified “B Corp“.
Some students came to the program on their own volition, ready to upskill and take the next steps on their career pathways. Others were coaxed into the program by parents concerned that COVID-19 had contributed to a lack of motivation, a dearth of peer interaction, and hoped to get their kids back in the school groove before September. Despite the strong-arming, many of those students learned and had fun in spite of themselves. “To be honest, my mom wanted me to do this,” said Isabelle Studley, who’s entering her senior year, poised to graduate a semester early this December. “But now I wish it could keep going!” Forrest Wohnus, who’s interested in a career in engineering, carpentry, or mechanics said, “I was a little skeptical about what it (the program) would be. But I quickly realized I was learning a lot of valuable information.”
Participants who completed the Bootcamp and wanted to pursue an internship or job shadow experience worked with Christy Betit and Casey Haynes, BDCC’s Talent Specialist, who works with newcomers to the region, college interns, and helps employers with recruitment. Many local employers have responded by offering to host interns in sectors like healthcare, manufacturing, journalism, law enforcement, construction, and engineering. One of the reasons BDCC’s Paid Internship program has worked so well over the years is that it (a) prepares employers to provide a meaningful work and learning experience, and (b) strives to ensure the experience matches each intern’s interests. More updates to come as students are placed in a wide variety of internship opportunities with local employers throughout the months of August and September.
To learn more contact Christy Betit, BDCC’s Pipelines and Pathways Coordinator, at cbetit@brattleborodevelopment.com
About Pipelines & Pathways
BDCC’s Pipelines and Pathways Program (P3) provides employment oriented career-planning for the region’s high school students. It brings training in 21st Century skills, work-based learning, and personal learning plan (PLP) engagement opportunities to all four public high schools in Windham County. The program assists in developing workforce-oriented curricula, expanding classroom relationships, and growing work-based learning through opportunities with local employers. It also supports teachers working face to face with students to implement personal learning plans and seize the myriad opportunities presented by Vermont’s Flexible Pathways Initiative under Act 77. Pipelines & Pathways is a BDCC Workforce Center of Excellence program based on SeVEDS strategies to increase the size and quality of the workforce. For more information please visit https://brattleborodevelopment.com/workforce/
The Southern Vermont Workforce Center of Excellence
The Southern Vermont Workforce Center of Excellence (WFCoE) is an employer-driven system of Workforce and Education partners aligned behind strategies developed through the regional Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy developed by SeVEDS. It is staffed and the strategies implemented by the Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation (BDCC). The central workforce goals are to increase the size and quality of the workforce, raise median household income, and increase the 25-44 age cohort. The vision for the Workforce Center of Excellence is to ensure every person in the region can access the education, training and support needed to secure meaningful work, career and wage growth, and to identify and fulfill the regional workforce needs of our regional employers to ensure no good job goes unfilled. For more information please visit https://brattleborodevelopment.com/workforce/
