At the School District of Lancaster, preparing students for the future begins long before they are asked to choose a career. . It starts with access and meaningful experiences that help students imagine what is possible. That vision was on full display during Milestones Career Day, when students explored engineering and manufacturing through hands-on learning alongside partners from MANTEC.
Designed with intention, the day centered on learning that students could see, touch, and test. For Milestones students, this approach was especially powerful.
“We’re getting our elementary kiddos exposed to a variety of career paths,” shared Amanda Fontaine, social worker at Milestones. “learning that really sticks is hands-on. When students can experiment and see how things work, the learning comes to life.”
Inside classrooms, students stepped into the role of engineers. Using paper airplanes, they explored how design choices such as folds, shapes, and structure affect performance. As students tested their planes, they asked questions, made predictions, and refined their designs, building problem-solving skills and confidence along the way.
“They’re learning that engineering is about creativity and persistence,” Fontaine said. “They see how small changes can make a big difference and that it’s okay to try again.”
The excitement was immediate. Students compared results with classmates, talked through why one design flew farther than another, and celebrated both successes and learning moments. These shared experiences helped reinforce collaboration while connecting academic concepts to real-world application.
The experience was intentionally structured across grade levels. Elementary students focused on foundational engineering concepts, while middle school students will continue the exploration next week through a more advanced challenge. Sixth, seventh, and eighth graders will design and build bridges, testing how well their structures hold and reflecting on how their ideas can improve.
“Sometimes their designs work, sometimes they don’t,” Fontaine said. “But every attempt helps them learn and grow.”
Equity was central to the day’s purpose. Milestones is a full emotional support building, and this year marked a purposeful effort to ensure students there have access to the same Future Ready experiences as their peers across the district.
“This is our first year bringing Future Ready into Milestones with real intention,” Fontaine explained. “Learning can look different for every student, and our kids deserve the same opportunities, whether they’re here or at another SDoL school.”
MANTEC’s team added real-world context by introducing students to manufacturing and its role in Lancaster County.
“Manufacturing is about making things and turning raw materials into something people use and enjoy,” shared Cindi Moses of MANTEC. As a nonprofit that supports manufacturers across South Central Pennsylvania, MANTEC also leads workforce development and career exploration efforts.
Moses emphasized that manufacturing offers a wide range of opportunities.
“No matter what a student is interested in, there’s likely a place for it in manufacturing,” she said. “We want students to see it as a viable and important path.”
By combining hands-on engineering activities with authentic career exploration, Milestones Career Day created an experience students can remember, share, and build upon. More than a single event, it reinforced a powerful message that every student belongs in conversations about the future.
At Milestones, paper airplanes, bridge designs, and thoughtful partnerships came together to open doors, spark curiosity, and help students begin imagining the many paths ahead.
