Whatever it was, it worked. On May 16 Boxerwood hosted a first-ever Green Career Expo for more than a hundred environmental science students at RCHS. Responding to a teacher request, we put out the call. Two dozen conservation professionals quickly volunteered to share insights during a day of outdoor show-and-tell.
“We were amazed by the generosity and enthusiasm of those we contacted,” said education director Elise Sheffield. “Apparently there is a real desire in the conservation community to encourage the next generation but not always a built-in way to do that. Boxerwood made it easy: we had the contacts, the school, the place, and a plan–speed dating!”
The Expo featured both a morning and afternoon session at Boxerwood. Students arrived by bus, rotating through a choice of presenter stations in a series of timed, 10-minute rounds. During each round small groups of students met with up to three presenters per thematic station, each of whom brought show-and-tell items as well as career advice. By the end of the expo every student had interacted with at least nine presenters representing three different types of green trades and careers. They also had time to meander the garden afterward, revisiting favorite childhood haunts.
In their exit surveys, the RCHS students rated the event highly. The program was “fun and informative . . and absolutely I learned about new jobs … it opened my eyes a lot.” What career did they find most interesting? To our delight, the responses were all over the map: landscape architect, game warden, cemetery owner, park ranger, agricultural agent, environmental scientist, solar expert, “tree doctor” – the list went on and on.
The Expo had a lot of moving parts and players, but it all came together for a memorable and perhaps for some, a life-changing day. We look forward to Career Expo 2023.
