Dayton Metro Library Foundation

2021 ANNUAL CAREER ADVENTURES DAY WAS ALLOCATED FROM THE FOUNDATION'S 2019 YEAR-END SPECIFIC CAMPAIGN FUND CREATED SPECIFICALLY TO SUPPORT THIS PURPOSE. DUE TO THE CHALLENGES OF COVID-19, CAREER ADVENTURES DAY WAS CANCELLED IN 2020 AND REWORKED INTO A VIRTUAL CAREER ADVENTURES CAMP. IN 2021, WORKING CLOSELY WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES, PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS DEDICATED TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, AND AREA LOCAL SCHOOLS, PRECAUTIONS WERE TAKEN TO SAFELY WELCOME STUDENTS BACK TO THE LIBRARY SO THEY COULD BENEFIT FROM THIS EXPERIENCE. OVER TWO DAYS IN NOVEMBER, DML WELCOMED NEARLY 1,000 MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS TO EXPLORE CAREER OPTIONS IN HIGH DEMAND FIELDS. THE STUDENTS EXPLORED THE MAIN LIBRARY AS THEY ROTATED AMONG AREAS DEDICATED TO SHOWCASING CAREERS IN ADVANCED MANUFACTURING, HEALTHCARE AND BIOSCIENCE, CONSTRUCTION AND SKILLED TRADES, AEROSPACE, LOGISTICS, PUBLIC SERVICES, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, EDUCATION AND IT. DURING THEIR VISIT, STUDENTS RECEIVED HANDS-ON INSTRUCTION, ASKED QUESTIONS, BENEFITED FROM SOME WONDERFUL "TAKE AWAYS- AND LEARNED WHAT SCHOOLING, CERTIFICATIONS AND PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES WILL HELP THEM REACH THEIR OWN PROFESSIONAL GOALS. THIS PROJECT WAS PERFECTLY ALIGHTED WITH OUR MISSION TO EXPAND YOUTH HORIZONS FOR LEARNING BECAUSE WE STRENGTHENED PARTNERSHIPS WITH EDUCATORS, EXPANDED LIBRARY ENGAGEMENT WITH AREA YOUTH, AND MAXIMIZED OUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO COMMUNITY EDUCATION.

STEM EDUCATION AND AT HOME LEARNING TAKE AND MAKE KITS WAS ALLOCATED FROM THE FOUNDATION'S 2020 CAMPAIGN FUND EARMARKED FOR STEM EDUCATION. EACH SPECIALLY MARKED TAKE & MAKE BOX OFFERS AGE-APPROPRIATE GAMES, PUZZLES, INSTRUCTIONS FOR A CRAFT PROJECT OR EXPERIMENT, AND ALL THE NEEDED SUPPLIES. EACH MONTH CONSISTS OF A NEW THEME - EARLY TOPICS INCLUDED NATURE, WATER, AND ANIMALS. DML PROVIDES THREE DIFFERENT BOXES CONTAINING UNIQUE ACTIVITIES SURROUNDING THE THEME IN ORDER TO SERVE 1) FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN WHO WILL NEED ASSISTANCE, 2) KIDS IN GRAGES 1-6 WHO NEED MINIMAL ASSISTANCE, AND 3) TEENS WHO CAN WORK INDEPENDENTLY. INCLUDED IN EACH BOX AND CROSS-POSTED ONLINE ARE DETAILS ABOUT FREE, VIRTUAL PROGRAMS HOSTED BY COMMUNITY PARTNERS SUCH AS FIVE RIVERS METROPARKS, THE UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON'S RIVER INSTITUTE, AND THE GLEN HELEN RAPTOR CENTER.