The Nomination Process

Each September select schools and community groups nominate candidates for the Career Trek program. These groups have been previously selected by the program for their ability to provide young people who meet the program's admission criteria. From the nominees, Career Trek then selects its participants. The number of young people chosen for the primary program is 240. All participants in the program are 10-11 years of age.

Program participants are nominated on the basis of simple criteria: first, that the individual has, in the estimation of the sponsoring school or organization, the potential for going on and completing a post-secondary education, while recognizing that the young person in question is in danger of not doing so. The nominee may be at-risk of not pursuing a post-secondary education for any number of reasons, including such factors as socio-economic status, gender, disability, lifestyle, transiency, or attitude towards school. As well, nominated participants must be in a position to attend and make the time commitment required to complete the program. Finally, participants must show respect for all fellow participants and staff. The appropriate selection of participants remains critical to the success of Career Trek. Career Trek endeavours to increase a participant's self-esteem. The selection of a child who cannot meet these basic requirements means that the child will be unlikely to graduate. As failure to complete the program may result in an actual lowering of the child's educational self-esteem, proper selection remains crucial to identifying the appropriate program participants.

Orientation and Administration

Following their selection, applicants and their families are required to attend an orientation session which provides them with information about the program and the responsibilities of being in the program should they choose to participate. Those students who attended the orientation are then expected to complete an application form and a pre-program questionnaire. The questionnaire is used to assess the overall level of awareness regarding post-secondary education and careers among program participants.

Program Structure

The Career Trek program runs for 20 Saturdays, October to April. Each group starts at one of the three participating institutions: the University of Manitoba, the University of Winnipeg, and Red River College where it remains for five Saturdays (one "term"). At the conclusion of 5 weeks, each group rotates to a new set of departments/faculties. In total, the participants receive 80 hours of direct programming. At each institution, participants spend 4 hours a day in hands-on programming. These 4 hours are divided equally between 4 select departments, programs or faculties. Participating departments, programs and faculties are chosen on the basis of their enthusiasm for the program and its client group, as well as their ability to provide an excellent curriculum. Activities are designed and modified to meet the needs of the individual age groups and lecturing is kept to a minimum. Classes are engaging, hands-on and innovative and are designed to increase participants awareness about a particular field, and its associated careers. All activities are structured to maximize those skills generally accepted to be vital to the changing workforce. Career Trek is a "homework-free" zone.

Participating Departments:

Participant Program Fees

The cost to participants for enrolling in Career Trek is $20 per term (4 terms). Participants must pay their first $20 before entering the program. However, if a students remains in the program, the first term payment is "rolled over" and used to pay for the second term. This process is repeated for the third term and fourth terms. Upon successful completion of the program, graduates are then provided with a yearbook of their experiences.

The intent of the initial $20 is simply to act as a gesture of commitment on the part of participants and their families. No child is refused entry to the program on the basis of inability to pay the program fee. However, Career Trek reserves the right to have the participant place an item of equivalent value with the program as a symbol of that child's/family's commitment.

Program Expectations for Participants

Career Trek believes that it is a privilege to be a participant in the program. As such, all participants and their families are aware of, and agree to, the program's expectations around involvement. These include:

• Regular attendance. Any participant missing three classes without a legitimate excuse has made a decision to remove himself/herself from the program. Further to this, participants who have legitimate excuses, but who do not relay their impending absences to the program, have also indicated to Career Trek their decision to no longer participate in the program.
• Participants are expected to actively participate in developing a program atmosphere that embraces tolerance and understanding. Individuals presenting ongoing behavioural issues make decisions to remove themselves from the program. It is further understood that the program's expectations are in effect the moment participants step on the program's bus, not just at the program proper. Career Trek has a zero tolerance policy for drugs and weapons.

Program Expectations for Families of Participants

In addition to attending the program orientation, families are expected to make additional commitments. While recognizing that some family's schedules do not allow full participation, it is also understood that families of participants accept the responsibility of supporting their child(ren) in the program. This means attending and participating in such events as Family Day and Convocation, as well as helping to motivate their children. In demonstration of their commitment, all families (as defined by the participant) must sign a "Family Commitment" contract that outlines the aforementioned commitments.

Expectations of Participating Schools and School Divisions

Career Trek has high expectations for schools and school divisions, not just participants and their families. Schools that consistently fail to meet their commitments are removed from the program.

Schools:

• identification and nomination of potential participants
• hosting of family orientation
• attendance at events
• processing of paperwork
• taking part in the intervention team if there is an issue with a participant or his/her family.