The program of Explorer posts matches the interests of young adults with the resources and adult expertise of their participating organization. Your Explorer post leaders might use the following ideas when planning a well-balanced program around Exploring's five areas of program emphasis: career opportunities, leadership experience, life skills, citizenship, and character education.
1. CAREER OPPORTUNITIES: Programs that develop potential contacts that may broaden employment options. Activities that boost a youth's self-confidence and help him or her experience success at school and work.
SUGGESTED TOPICS: Investigate the total scope of business careers in industry, agriculture, military, government, research, and recreation.
Review the variety of career opportunities in systems and data processing, design, engineering, production, sales, installation, service and operation, retail, manufacturing, small business operations, placement services, salaries, benefits and interviewing. Investigate the opportunities in secretarial and banking operations, which would include trust, investment, advertising, public services, security, and teaching. Take sample test placement tests in typing, computer data input, and computer knowledge.
Plan programs that can be used in government, research, the stock market, news media, libraries, employment agencies, branch banks, corporate services, and other related fields. Discuss the education necessary for systems and data careers, banking and secretarial careers, fashion design/manufacturing, and advertising. Investigate the career possibilities in advertising, including artwork, layout, newspapers, magazines, corporations, government agencies, and radio and television markets as well as major design corporations that could incorporate any other business career-related subjects. Discuss training with local corporations or businesses for apprentice positions or after school/summer work.
Ask representatives of the telephone company, office machines, employment agencies, and other specialists to speak to the post. Plan a panel discussion with personnel managers, secretaries, and educators. Learn proper reception, telephone, travel planning, and scheduling techniques.
Plan programs on the use of computers in the home, schools, business, government, research, stock market, news media, libraries, utilities, transportation, military, banks, insurance, credit bureaus, and sports. Visit the training programs offered by schools, colleges, military, and computer centers. Build a computer.
Review the variety of careers in management/sales, service, finance, and related fields. Plan programs on careers in small businesses, corporations, industries, and associations.
Discuss interviews, placement services, modeling agencies, benefits, salaries, training, job satisfaction, promotion opportunity, and career requirements for fashion and modeling careers. Plan a career panel discussion with salespeople, buyers, designers, manufacturers, models, and storeowners. Visit large department stores, fashion centers, small retail stores, and manufacturers to learn about career opportunities. Develop fashion designs and ask experts to critique. Learn about fabrics, dyes, synthetic materials, leathers, and other materials available to designers. Learn proper figure control, clothing, posture, makeup, and walking for modeling. Study retail sales, buying, window dressing, alterations, public speaking, and determining styles and trends.
2. LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE: Programs that help youth develop leadership skills to fulfill their responsibilities in society. Activities that provide exposure to different leadership traits.
SUGGESTED TOPICS: Review the ethics, privacy aspects, and regulation related to banking, advertising, data systems, fashion design, and secretarial. Plan discussion groups that would involve representatives of various banks, newspapers, advertising groups, and secretarial associations for question-and-answer sessions.
Do a comparison study on the roles of secretaries, banking, data-processing fields, and the fashion design industry for corporate, government, and private practices. Discuss the effect of data processing on military, space programs, science, and medicine. Plan programs on engineering, travel, data processing, libraries, banking processes, and space programs using members of local representatives of various small businesses, corporations, and modeling agencies (for proper techniques on how to dress for work in organizations other than sports). Determine styles and trends for commercial industry, private industry, and social activities. Plan programs on labor unions, trade associations, affirmative action, career advancement, and how the fashion industry relates to the economy. Review the raw materials necessary for manufacturing an item of clothing and study the processes necessary to provide it.
Plan a program on the purposes and programs of the American Bankers Association. Study the history and development of banking and how it relates to other countries. Study the effect of private enterprise on the community, state, and nation; review taxation, political involvement, and business regulation. Plan programs on the purposes of local, state, and the national Chamber of Commerce. Learn about federal and local programs to aid small businesses. Read about and study world trade and the national economy.
3. LIFE SKILLS: Programs that help youth develop physical and mental fitness. Activities that provide opportunities for youth to experience positive social interaction.
SUGGESTED TOPICS: Plan parents' night programs, open houses, and family activities to include tours to participating organizations. Provide systems and data-processing projects to assist elderly, disabled, low-income, and disadvantaged individuals. Develop programs for youth groups, churches, and community organizations to help with family budgets, record keeping, and correspondence. Plan parent/Explorer activities; hold a fashion show with elementary school children and senior citizens. Have a "year-dated" party for a social activity with a youth group or a senior citizen center.
Provide banking information or training to assist elderly, disabled, low-income, and disadvantaged people.
Invite models, modeling schools, and agencies to provide tours and speakers. Visit designers' studios, retail stores, manufacturers, and distribution centers. Develop a project and study the apparel industry by designing, making patterns, selecting fabrics, and cutting and assembling a garment.
4. CITIZENSHIP: Programs that encourage youth to develop the skill and desire to help others. Activities that provide opportunities for youth to gain a keen respect for the basic rights of others.
SUGGESTED TOPICS: Provide systems and data-processing assistance to charities, churches, youth groups, community organizations, the disadvantaged, the elderly, and the disabled. Coach Boy Scouts seeking the Computers merit badge; support community projects planned by professional business organizations; assist public service groups with programming projects. Offer assistance to libraries, schools, churches, and community organizations in data processing, secretarial, and banking, projects. Learn to use other types of equipment such as a Braille typewriter and transcribe books or letters for people with sight disabilities.
Participate in a fashion show for a local department store and help with the organization by advertising, recruiting, and designing staging and music. Volunteer as models for charity benefits. Plan a fashion show of historical costumes, sportswear, uniforms, humorous items, travel wear, or other categories. Provide fashion and/or makeup programs for youth groups, community organizations, or senior citizens.
Serve on the bookkeeping staffs of local and national Explorer events. Assist with local bankers' community affairs projects. Develop public service programs for community organizations
5. CHARACTER EDUCATION: Programs that help youth develop skills necessary for making ethical choices. Activities which provide opportunities for fulfilling one's responsibility to society as a whole.
SUGGESTED TOPICS: Visit a business industry-related trade show. Have a family picnic and do business-related competitions or have a model rocket-launching event. Have an annual post awards banquet.
Conduct seminars on developing communications skills. Assist with projects to help retirees, dependents, the elderly, or disadvantaged people. Use the Learning for Life book Ethical Controversies for activities on character education. Encourage the development of business and workplace ethics. Service clubs and leaders in the business community are excellent resources for this topic. Also investigate the relationship business has with the local community. This would include topics such as community relations and involvement, public education, civic events to promote community pride, and the effect business practices have on environmental concerns.
Copyright © 2005 · Learning for Life