9781422270622

Introduction

Students are often interested in learning more about careers, but many don’t take the steps necessary to do so, according to a survey of 14- to 18-year-olds by the nonprofit ECMC Group. It found that while 74 percent of respondents believe it is important to have their career plans determined when they graduate from high school, only 39 percent have taken classes or participated in programs to explore occupations. Many young people are not aware of the wide range of activities that are available to help them explore the field they’re considering, discover career paths, and learn what it takes to train and be successful in a given occupation. If you are a middle school or high school student, here are just a few of the exploration activities in which you can participate: • science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) competitions • school clubs • interviews and job-shadowing experiences with

environmental professionals • summer exploration camps • volunteer opportunities

• tours of nature centers, national parks, laboratories, and other places where environmental professionals do their work • books

• websites • podcasts • videos • mentorship programs

• resources from professional environmental associations, nature organizations, companies, and government agencies

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