Guaranteed Experiences
Guaranteed Experiences are provided to all students in all schools during the school year. Through these experiences, students form community connections, explore industry and learn about local cultural landmarks.
Elementary
Pre-K
FORT WAYNE MUSEUM OF ART FIELD TRIP
Fort Wayne Museum of Art (FWMoA)
Pre-K students will learn connections between art and storytelling (visual literacy) through lessons pairing artwork at the FWMoA with a book. Students will then visit FWMoA or host a museum guest to see and discuss artwork and learn museum etiquette.
Kindergarten
PRESENT DAY HERO IN MY COMMUNITY
Kindergarten students will step into a kid-sized town to discover how everyday heroes keep our community safe, healthy and happy. From firefighters who protect us, to doctors who help us feel better, to teachers who guide our learning, children will meet real people who make a big difference in our daily lives. During their visit to Safety Village, they’ll explore, ask questions and see firsthand how we can all work together to help our community thrive.
FARM LIFE
Hooley Farms
As part of the Kindergarten Farm Unit, Hooley Farms will visit each elementary school to provide students with a hands-on learning experience. Students will interact with a variety of farm animals while making real-world connections to the stories, vocabulary and concepts they are studying in class. This engaging experience will help bring learning to life and deepen students' understanding of life on a farm.
Grade 1
NATURE WALK
Community Partner based on school location
Students will learn how people have copied the unique features of animals, plants and other living creatures to solve human problems (e.g., shark skin inspiring swimsuits). Students will then become nature detectives in their local community to make observations to help solve problems in their daily lives.
EXPLORE HANDS-ON SCIENCE
First graders will visit Science Central to explore interactive exhibits that inspire a love of science while making connections to topics from their CKLA (Core Knowledge Language Arts) reading program, including astronomy and the natural world.
Grade 2
DREAM BIG, BUILD SMALL: TINY HOUSE DESIGNERS
Community Partner based on school location
Students will step into the shoes of architects, builders and entrepreneurs as they imagine, design and construct their very own tiny house. They’ll think creatively about space, choose features to include and bring their ideas to life through hands-on building. Then, they’ll become marketers - presenting and “selling” their tiny home to others. This project blends creativity, problem-solving and sales into one unforgettable experience.
BUILDING COMMUNITY CONNECTION
Students will visit the main branch of the Allen County Public Library for a personalized guided tour of the 367,000-square-foot downtown library and an engaging story time in StoryScape. This visit will help students explore the many resources available at the library, build literacy skills and foster a love of reading while making meaningful connections to learning beyond the classroom.
Grade 3
READY FOR ANYTHING: EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
Students will take safety into their own hands as they learn how to prepare for emergencies. During their visit to Safety Village, they’ll explore the Survive Alive House, an interactive space where they will practice real-life safety skills. They will then create a personalized emergency preparedness plan and kit for their home, empowering them to help keep their family safe in any situation.
Grade 4
EXPLORING THE THREE RIVERS OF FORT WAYNE
Students will dive into the fascinating story of Fort Wayne’s three rivers and discover how weather and erosion helped shape the land we see today. Through an interactive virtual lab with Science Central, they will explore science concepts up close, learning how water, wind and time work together to transform a landscape. This is a hands-on journey connecting local history, nature and science.
SWIM LESSONS
Swim lessons at the Helen P. Brown Natatorium are about more than learning to swim, they’re an investment in safety, confidence and lifelong wellness. Students will develop essential water safety skills while also building strength, coordination and personal health awareness. Along the way, they will discover how swimming connects to future opportunities in health, safety and human services careers.
Grade 5
A DAY IN THE LIFE AT BIZ TOWN
Students will step into the real world of work, money and community at JA BizTown. Before their visit, they will explore different careers, learn how businesses operate and discover how community resources help residents thrive. At BizTown, students will take on a job, earn a paycheck and work alongside classmates to keep their mini-city running smoothly through responsibility and teamwork.
SWIM LESSONS
Students return to the Helen P. Brown Natatorium for a second year of FWCS swim lessons. They will build on the water safety and swimming skills learned in fourth grade to develop confidence in the water while strengthening their swimming techniques and endurance. This year also introduces students to club swimming and FWCS swim teams, providing opportunities to explore competitive swimming and healthy, active lifestyles. Through this experience, students continue to build lifelong skills that promote safety, wellness, confidence and a love of swimming.
Middle School
Grade 6
HEALTH CAREER EXPLORATION
Sixth grade students will visit the Parkview Mirro Center to explore careers in health sciences. Students will get hands-on exposure to a variety of medical and health-related roles, including emergency simulations and the work of an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). These experiences demonstrate how healthcare professionals work together to keep the community healthy.
CIVICS COMES TO LIFE
Sixth graders will extend their classroom learning with visits to the Fort Wayne History Center and the Allen County Courthouse during the civics portion of their Social Studies curriculum. Throughout the day, students will explore the history of Fort Wayne, learn how local government and the court system serve the community, and gain a firsthand understanding of the roles and responsibilities of government officials.
Grade 7
OCCUPATION EXPLORATION
JIM KELLEY CAREER PATHWAY CENTER
Boys & Girls Club of Fort Wayne
Boys & Girls Club of Fort Wayne
Seventh graders explore high-demand, hands-on careers in manufacturing, construction and information technology at the Jim Kelley Career Pathway Center. In the IT zone, students will program small robotic cars using programming code and learn how coding powers real-world technology. In construction, they will practice skills used by carpenters and use real tools to build wooden hinges. In manufacturing, students will use a virtual welding simulator, experiencing the precision and safety needed to create everything from cars to bridges. This exposure gives students insight into in-demand careers that keep our world moving and growing.
COOKING IN THE CLASSROOM
Science classes partner with McMillen to bring culinary skills and nutrition education to life through Cooking In The Classroom. Students learn the benefits of healthy eating, discover how to prepare nutritious meals, and get hands-on experience working with recipes to create dishes from start to finish. This experience combines science, health and practical life skills to give students the confidence to make healthy choices and explore new foods.
Grade 8
CONTINUED OCCUPATION EXPLORATION
JIM KELLEY CAREER PATHWAY CENTER
Boys & Girls Club of Fort Wayne
Boys & Girls Club of Fort Wayne
On this trip to the Jim Kelley Career Pathway Center, students will explore automotive and health science careers. In health sciences, students will use a surgery simulator and practice a blood draw on a realistic training arm, learning how medical professionals care for patients with precision and skill. In the automotive zone, students step into a virtual reality environment to perform an oil change and test their abilities with a virtual spray painter, similar to those used in real auto body shops. This trip gives students experience with high-demand careers in the community.
FINANCE PARK
Junior Achievement
Junior Achievement
Eighth grade students visit JA Finance Park for a hands-on budgeting simulation that brings real-world money management to life. Each student is assigned a life scenario with a job, income and family responsibilities and must make financial decisions about housing, transportation, food and other daily expenses. This experience gives students a better understanding of how budgeting works, how financial choices affect daily life and the importance of planning for the future.
SPEECH CONTEST
Community Partner based on school location
Community Partner based on school location
Students will build a speech around the following question: What matters to you? They are encouraged to develop civic awareness by identifying a local community issue or need that they care about. Through crafting this speech, students develop an awareness of their community and how they can play a role in making a difference.
STADIUM TOUR
Fort Wayne TinCaps
Fort Wayne TinCaps
Eighth graders visit the Fort Wayne TinCaps at Parkview Field to see firsthand the many careers that make minor league baseball possible. Students explore everything from marketing and ticket sales to groundskeeping and game-day operations, gaining insight into how different departments work together to create a great fan experience.
High School
Grade 9
JA JOB SPARK
Junior Achievement & Various Partners
Junior Achievement & Various Partners
Students will participate in the Career Expo hosted by Junior Achievement.
COLLEGE FAIR
Various Local Colleges
Various Local Colleges
Students will participate in the Northeast Indiana College Fair hosted by Fort Wayne Community Schools and other partners.
3DE CASE CHALLENGES & COACHING SESSIONS
Junior Achievement & Various Partners
Junior Achievement & Various Partners
Throughout the year, students will participate in company case challenges, coaching sessions, culminating events and career days.
Grade 10
INDUSTRY FIELD TRIP
Various Partners
Various Partners
Students will visit various industries within their School of Success and pathway scope.
GUEST SPEAKERS
Various Local Colleges
Various Local Colleges
Students will engage with professionals within their desired career field without leaving the classroom.
3DE CASE CHALLENGES & COACHING SESSIONS
Junior Achievement & Various Partners
Junior Achievement & Various Partners
Throughout the year, students will participate in company case challenges, coaching sessions, culminating events and career days.
Grade 11
JOB SHADOW
Various Partners
Various Partners
Students will participate in a job shadow within a career field of their choice that aligns to their School of Success and CTE Pathway.
JA IGNITE CAREER FAIR
Junior Achievement & Various Partners
Junior Achievement & Various Partners
Students will participate in the Career Expo hosted by Junior Achievement.
3DE INNOVATION SHOWCASE & MARKET EXPO
Junior Achievement & Market Expo
Students take on the real-world processes of developing, marketing and launching their own businesses while collaborating with peers and business professionals to learn about authentic, industry-specific challenges. Through this experience, they will pitch their idea to potential investors and showcase their product or service to the community.
Grade 12
3DE SENIOR YEAR CONSULTANCY
Various Partners
Various Partners
3DE Senior Consultancy serves as a capstone experience, allowing students to apply the skills and behaviors they have developed through Schools of Success powered by 3DE to real business scenarios. Acting as consultants, students work in teams to develop solutions tailored to the specific needs of a local business.
Junior Achievement & Various Partners
Students will participate in the Career Expo hosted by Junior Achievement.
INTERNSHIP/APPRENTICESHIP
Various Partners
Various Partners
Students will be able to pursue work-based learning opportunities with local companies.