THE SKILLSOURCE SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAM

It’s been said that if you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life. One of the best ways to learn what you might love to do is to be exposed to different career paths to see what’s out there, and to learn what “work” is all about. 

SkillSource helps young people discover career path opportunities. SkillSource partners with local schools, DVR (DSHS Division of Vocational Rehabilitation), and area businesses on a summer program that gives youth with disabilities the chance to explore the wide world of work in classroom workshops, on jobsite tours, and with paid work experiences.

Altogether, 100 students participated in this year’s summer workshops with SkillSource youth trainers, and attended job tours in Moses Lake, Othello, Omak, and Wenatchee.     

A female science teacher in a blue shirt holds her hands around a glowing light bulb in front of an audience of teen students.
Students engage in an energy presentation at Rocky Reach Dam and Discovery Center.

ABOUT PRE-ETS

Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) are a coordinated set of activities designed to promote movement from school to post-school activities, to enhance and support secondary education transition planning for students with an IEP plan, a 504 plan, or a documented disability.

Students learn more about their interests, aptitudes, and future goals, and gain tools for self-advocacy to help them flourish in everyday life. Students also get opportunities for work-based learning to give them hands-on experience.

The SkillSource youth team connects with schools during the academic year to invite and prepare students for the workshops, which are offered during the school year as well as summer.

Students tour an airplane hangar at the Port of Othello.

INSPIRATION IN ACTION

We are grateful to the partners and businesses who have enthusiastically invited students to explore worksites and to be curious and ask questions. One highlight was when students and staff learned that the server halls at Sabey Data Centers in East Wenatchee are largely maintained through evaporative cooling. In a conversation the following day, one of the students suggested they build their own swamp cooler! They assembled a box with holes cut on the sides for venting, then placed a bowl filled with ice inside, and set a small desktop fan over a hole in the top of the box to blow directly onto the ice. The air vented out the sides and the students and staff tracked the progress of their swamp cooler, effectively dropping the temperature in the room by 2.2 degrees over 2.5 hours! From job exploration, to leaning into curiosity, to putting projects into action … the wide world of work can indeed include SO much to love! 

The inspired DIY swamp cooler made by students.

 Thank you to the following businesses who helped make this summer program a success:  Lifeline Ambulance Station, Town Toyota Dealership, Chelan County PUD/Rocky Reach Discovery Center, Ballard Ambulance, Othello City Hall, Sabey Data Centers, Port of Othello, Omak Post Office, Omak Fire Department, Grant County Courthouse, Grocery Outlet in Ephrata, CBHA, and Moore’s Furniture. 

See more photos from some of this summer’s tours below.

Students meet the paramedics who reside on site at Ballard during their long shifts.
While touring an ambulance, an emergency call came in and Ballard staff got straight to work!
Students arrive to the Omak Post Office.
Behind the scenes at the post office.
Students ask questions at the start of their tour at Sabey Data Centers.
Exploring the long halls and learning about batteries and generators at Sabey.
Students engaged in hands-on learning to understand how hydropower works.
Students were excited to learn how many cool jobs there are so close to home!
Students tour the Grant County Courthouse.
Kyle Fireman with the Grant County Sheriff's Office answers students' questions.