The ILC has a strong focus on leaving to learn so that students can:
- Pursue individual interests
- Be exposed to new ideas, interests, career possibilities
- Meet new people in our community
- Build workplace and technical skills with mentor guidance
Leaving to Learn
Types of Leaving to Learn Opportunities
- Group Visits - small group visits to local businesses and organizations, field trips hosted by scientists or other professionals, outdoor recreation, service learning, and more.
- Interviews - an individual ILC student sets up a time to meet with a professional to ask questions pertaining to what the mentor does and the path they took to get there.
- Job Shadows - a mentor/business provides an opportunity for a student to visit their workplace. Students observe, assist when appropriate, and gain a sense of what the mentor’s job is like for a day or a series of days.
- Internships - where a mentor provides a regular opportunity to have the student engage in a work-based learning experience. The timing and duration of an internship is flexible depending on each mentor’s availability.
Be a Mentor!
“Being connected to the ILC for internships is incredible! Showing and inspiring teens to consider ECE (early childhood education) as a sector, to fall in love with children and/or teaching and in some cases, see a very real career possibility right here in their home town after graduation is so wonderful! Interns can be incredibly helpful for a classroom, the children WANT to connect with them and with an engaged intern, their presence provides support and relief to the teachers in the room.
-ILC Mentor