Jonathan’s favorite part of Navig8Lake wasn’t a brochure. It was a chicken.
“I liked the chickens over there. They were cool and super soft,” he said of the Liberty Prairie Farm booth, one of about 150 businesses and organizations where students explored careers up close at this year’s event at the Lake County Fairgrounds on Oct. 20.
That hands-on experience is the whole point, said Gina Schuyler, Administrator of Community Partnerships for District 127.
“A lot of times when you go to career fairs, you get a piece of paper passed out to you. Students really don’t know what to do with that,” Schuyler said. “Here, you get to see hands-on that our students are physically engaged in each of their careers.”
Now in its third year, Navig8Lake brought together about 7,500 eighth graders and high school students from across Lake County, including 725 from D127 and 585 from feeder schools. The event has nearly doubled since its first year, when it drew 4,000 students and about 100 businesses. Navig8Lake is organized with the Lake County Regional Office of Education and a six-district planning committee that includes D127’s Schuyler.
Dr. Mike Karner, Lake County Regional Superintendent of Schools, said the event grew out of an idea among Lake County partners to give students a hands-on way to discover careers.
“Based on what community you come from, sometimes you’re not always aware of the different fields that exist,” Karner said.
Exhibitors said the same thing. Lake County fire departments brought out everything this year: wildland firefighting, technical rescue, drones, fire investigations and even a dive tank. Students from the Lake County Tech Campus Fire and EMS program ran most of the stations.
“I just don’t know how many students know that firefighting is a career that’s something for them,” said one firefighter at the booth.
The October timing is intentional. Students will choose next year’s courses soon, and Schuyler said the event helps them decide which classes, clubs and activities to pursue.
“We really want this to be a stepping stone for those next steps for our students in high school,” she said.
Students tracked their interests through SchooLinks as they explored. Some also connected with businesses about paid work-based learning and internships through a new partnership with the Job Center of Lake County.
From GNHS student Sophia B., the day sparked an interest in nursing. Kylie D. said watching the fire department’s activities was her favorite part, and that the day got her thinking about her future.
“Yes, it has. I don’t know how, but it has,” she said.
As Sophia put it, “It’s a really cool opportunity and cool to see what Grayslake and Lake County has to offer.”