AWWA ACE91137

Career education goes beyond internships. The Philadelphia Water Department has three programs for career education: employee for a day, Explorer Scout Post, and a careers fair. The employee for a day program invited 35 ninth-grade students to spend a day with a mentor from the water department. Involvement with the Explorer Scouts involves a four-hour visit each month to the water department. The Explorers have also helped develop the exhibit used at annual career fairs. In addition, there are educational programs in which the career education is present but is not the primary focus. For the Philadelphia Water Department, these include open houses, speakers bureau, an education center at Fairmount Water Works national historic landmark, and an environmental science competition for high school students called Eco-Meet. The author offers some tips for training staff to work with students, and for encouraging participation in the activities.