At College of the Rockies, we strongly believe when you give young people opportunities, you give them choices. And choices create futures.
That is why we are committed to engaging youth across our region and providing them with a wide range of experiences that meet them where they are, spark curiosity, and open doors to possibility:
Sparking Curiosity Early
Learning begins the moment curiosity is nurtured. The summer STEAM Camps held at our campus give children the chance to experience hands-on science, technology, engineering, arts, and math in a fun, supportive environment, creating the first sparks that ignite imagination and possibility.
Creating a Welcoming Environment
For many youth, the biggest barrier to post-secondary is simply imaging themselves there. Opportunities like campus tours and Student-for-a-Day experiences allow young learners to walk the same halls as our learners, connect with instructors, and see themselves in a post-secondary setting. By demystifying college, they can picture higher education as something within reach and as a place where they already belong.
Exploring Career Pathways:
Choice comes from exposure. Our youth engagement programs like youth trades samplers and support of events like Skills Canada competitions and Project Heavy Duty give students a chance to test-drive future careers. Each opportunity helps them see what’s possible and decide what might be right for them.
Building Connections in Classrooms
Our recruitment officers regularly connect with Career Life Education students and welcome various classes and groups to our campus throughout the year, offering guidance and information that ensures students understand their options. These connections keep pathways visible and accessible.
Accelerating Achievement
For students eager to jump start their education or their career, academic dual credit, youth train in trades, and ECE dual credit semester programs provide a powerful choice: earn both high school and college credit at the same time. This provides students with a head start on post-secondary, saving them time and money while building confidence and momentum for the future.
Why it matters
Each of these opportunities creates a doorway through which students can:
- Explore their interests early on
- Build confidence in their abilities
- Make informed choices about their futures
- Be well-prepared with the skills, credits, and experience they need to succeed.
Though they appear small on the surface, these opportunities are powerful investments in the future of our region. We see youth not only as tomorrow’s learners, but as the conduit through which we build a stronger future.
It is through these small acts that we achieve our mission to transform lives through the power of education and empower youth to become the authors of their own paths. In turn, this helps strengthen our communities, our workforce, and our shared future.