CODY, WYOMING – Park County School District 6, in partnership with the Buffalo Bill Center of the West and other local Park County businesses, is proud to announce an exciting pilot program, Classroom-to-Careers. This unique initiative aims to provide PCSD 6 students with invaluable hands-on experience, bridging the gap between education and real-world application.
Classroom-to-Careers is designed to offer students from Park County School District 6 an exceptional opportunity to explore potential career paths, develop practical skills, and gain a deeper understanding of the cultural heritage preserved at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West. Through this collaboration, the Buffalo Bill Center of the West and Park County School District 6 seek to empower and inspire the next generation to accomplish their professional aspirations.
The program will be tailored to provide participating students with immersive learning experiences, both inside and outside the classroom. Students will engage in a structured curriculum that combines their classroom instruction with mentorship and hands-on projects at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West. By working closely with industry experts and museum professionals, students will gain insights into various museum departments including facilities, maintenance, exhibit design, conservation, culinary arts, social media, marketing, educational programming, accounting/finance, and learn job placement skills.
“The Center of the West is committed to the shared development of engaging programs with our local community and education leaders. Cultivating the talents and skills of our PCSD 6 students via the Classroom-to-Careers initiative furthers this commitment and helps ready our youth for a variety of disciplines both in cultural institutions, and beyond,” said Rebecca West, Executive Director at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West.
The Classroom-to-Careers program will not only foster academic growth but also instill essential life skills such as teamwork, critical thinking, and effective communication. Participating students will benefit from mentorship opportunities with experienced professionals, who will guide them in their learning journey and help them navigate the intricacies of multiple industries.
Regarding the budding pilot program, Vernon Orndorff, Superintendent of Park County School District 6, says, “partnering with our business leaders provides our scholars, at every grade level, with opportunities to explore potential career paths and gain hands-on experience in multiple career pathways. The Buffalo Bill Center of the West partnership provides another level of support for the Park County School District 6 Classroom-to-Careers initiative. The collaborative effort with the Center creates opportunities to support our scholars to make more informed decisions about their future career choices. The PCSD 6 Classroom-to-Careers and Career Pathways Flagship program initiatives create career pathways that provide scholars from PCSD 6 with high-skilled, high-demand, and high-wage careers experiences.”
The program is tentatively set to begin in fall, 2023.
For more information about the Classroom-to-Careers program and partnership with the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, please contact:
Bruce Sauers
Director of Revenue
Buffalo Bill Center of the West
307-578-4042
About the Buffalo Bill Center of the West:
A Smithsonian Affiliate housing 5 world-class museums under 1 roof! Connect with the American West through history, culture, art, natural science, chuckwagon dinners, live raptors, special events, and customized exclusive tours.
About Park County School District 6:
Park County School District 6 is a progressive early learning through 12th-grade school district in Cody, WY, serving over 2000 scholars at Cody High School, Heart Mountain Academy, Cody Middle School, and our elementary schools, Eastside, Livingston, Sunset, Valley, and Wapiti. We strive to cultivate a collaborative, supportive environment while building capacity where everyone can discover their passion, grow their passion, making a positive impact in the world.