SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – Starting September 8, South Tahoe High School is opening the doors to four after-school Career Academies. Each academy is six weeks long, built for juniors and seniors who want to try on a career before they commit to one.
The lineup: Armed Forces, Esports, Outdoor Recreation, and the Maker Space Lab.
Each academy is small on purpose and taught by people who actually do the work for a living.
The Armed Forces Academy is led by an Army Staff Sergeant and covers land navigation, mechanics, skilled trades, physical fitness, and the medical fields…. a real look at the range of careers that exist under the armed forces.
Outdoor Recreation is led by Tasha Thomas, professional mountain biker, longtime local, and an elementary school teacher in her spare time. She gets students on bikes, on paddleboards, and out on the trail learning the skills behind some of Tahoe’s most exciting outdoor careers.
The Esports Academy meets four days a week and takes the industry of gaming and computer science seriously. Students build skills as competitive players, commentators, and broadcasters, because the jobs in that world are real and growing fast.
The Atrium Makerspace is coming to South Lake Tahoe soon! While their new space is being built, the Atrium is offering a Makerspace Career Academy for students to get a jump-start. The Makerspace Lab puts laser engraving, 3D printing, sewing, and upcycling in students’ hands. We are excited about this amazing opportunity and expect it to fill quickly.
Career and Technical Education at STHS already runs twelve pathways – from Sports Medicine and Dental to Construction, Automotive, Culinary, Forestry, and Graphic Design. The after-school Career Academies are another rung on this ladder. They sit in that useful space between a class and an internship, giving students six weeks of hands-on exposure without asking them to rearrange their whole schedule to find out whether something clicks.
That is really the whole point. A student can spend six weeks discovering they love working with their hands, or that the military is the path for them, or that maybe a career in one of these fields isn’t for them. All of these outcomes are a win. Better to figure it out now than three years and a lot of tuition later.
No experience is necessary for any of the academies. Beginners are genuinely welcome. Students only need to show up curious and willing to learn. Juniors & Seniors only.
Academies meet after school starting September 8. Students can sign up by visiting HERE or by going to the link in the bio of the CTE Instagram account: tahoecte
Questions from families or from community members interested in supporting or leading a future academy can go to Erika Mathews at emathews@ltusd.org.
By Erika Mathews, CTE Specialist, South Tahoe High School