ACES woodworking and career program finishes up

The County Extension System program for the month of Jan. focused on woodworking, but Extension Coordinator Katernia Cole said the program also tied in discussion on careers and career paths.

“We had a woodworking program that we had kids participating in during January, but this time we also started talking about the future and careers,” Cole said.

The woodworking program taught kids about the basics of good design as well as safe work techniques.

The program allowed the participants to make their own decisions and choose their own design preferences as well as learn and practice skills that will be useful throughout life, according to Cole.

“We also wanted kids to start thinking down the road,” Cole said. “We want them to start thinking about careers and basically what they would want to major in or study in school in order to benefit them down the road.”

Cole said they discussed and brainstormed different professions that would benefit from the skills they would learn during the woodworking program.

“Kids started thinking about measuring and how that skill translates into other professions,” Cole said. “They thought of electricians, painters, plumbers, farmers, and even doctors and how the skill of measuring things would come into play.”

Cole said discussion also turned to family members and the jobs they held.

“We talked with the kids about what jobs their family members had and what kind of employers are in the area,” Cole said. “A lot of people grow up and move off from the area, but we wanted to show kids that there are a lot of opportunities in the area and that there are a lot of things available.”

The A.C.E.S. program coming up in February will focus on the Beef Club and related activities.