Mentoring Program
On-Site Career Exploration Programs
YCAL collaborates with business partners to offer High School students cost-free opportunities for career exploration, enhancing their comprehension of necessary training, education, and professional expectations. However, the availability of spots in On-Site Career Exploration Programs is limited, and applications must be submitted by the deadline. Students will then be notified via email if they have been accepted into the program 2 weeks before start of program.
Please note: While most programs are open to students in grades 9-12, seats are limited, and students will be accepted based on seniority and then order of application received.
CLICK HERE for a Program Preview
Application opens Monday, January 20, 2025
(Please note applications are no longer accepted within 3 weeks of the scheduled date of each program)
*Click on Program Host picture to get more information on each program.
| Program Host | Program Name | Date | Description | Career Cluster | Grade Eligibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | HVAC & Plumbing | 2/6/2025 | HVAC technicians install, maintain, and repair heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, ensuring optimal indoor air quality and temperature control. Plumbers install and repair pipes, fixtures, and drainage systems, ensuring clean water supply and waste disposal. Both skilled trades offer rewarding careers with excellent earning potential and the satisfaction of providing essential services to the community. Hosted by James Craft & Son, students can explore a variety of careers with this local industry leader along with various opportunities for employment and training including apprenticeship programs. | Architecture & Construction | 9-12 |
 | Electrical | 2/14/2025 | Electricians are the backbone of modern society, powering homes, businesses, and communities. With hands-on training and a good head for problem-solving, you can build a rewarding career. From installing wiring to troubleshooting complex systems, electricians play a vital role in keeping our world running smoothly. Hosted by the York Electrical Institute, this program will provide an overview of the career field and highlight some training options including Pre-Apprenticeship and Apprenticeships. | Architecture & Construction | 9-12 |
 | Manufacturing Careers | 2/19/2025 | Manufacturing is the process of converting materials and components into finished products through a variety of processes and systems. Manufacturing represents an incredibly large contribution to our local economy and there is a variety of diverse opportunities with employees in high-demand. Manufacturing is no longer dirty, dark, dangerous and dull...This field requires problem solving skills, innovation, and technical skills that can be learned. Hosted by the Manufacturers Association, this program will provide an overview of manufacturing processes, and will highlight Pre-Apprenticeship opportunities. | Manufacturing | 9-12 |
 | Building Trades | 2/21/2025 | The Building Trades industry comprises high demand careers from construction trades, heating and air conditioning, plumbing, masonry, landscaping and electrical work. With a willingness to learn skills through hands-on training you can build a rewarding career in this industry. Hosted by the York Builders Association’s Workforce NOW Foundation, this program will provide an overview of the career field and its many opportunities along with highlighting some training options including the Building Trades Pre-Apprenticeship. | Architecture & Construction | 9-12 |
 | Healthcare | 3/05/2025 | Healthcare careers encompass a diverse range of roles dedicated to promoting, maintaining, and restoring individuals' health and well-being. This program highlights several healthcare career pathways such as medical assisting, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and others offered at our host site, Central Penn college. The faculty and staff at Central Penn will highlights the required training and education needed to enter this field. Students will have the opportunity to engage in several medical simulations, so be prepared to participate! | Health Science | 9-12 |
 | Hospitality & Sports Management | 3/28/2025 | If you love interacting with people from all walks of life, enjoy creating memorable experiences, and/or have a passion for sports, you may want to consider a career in hospitality, tourism, OR sports management. This combined program will allow students to explore both career paths with York College leading the exploration program with assistance from the staff at the Yorktowne Hotel and the York Revolution. | Business Management & Admin.; Hospitality and Tourism | 9-12 |
 | Education | 4/1/2025 | A career in education offers a unique opportunity to make a lasting impact on the lives of young people. Some of the jobs in this field are: classroom teacher, special education teacher, administrator, counselor, or higher education teacher. This session will focus on the traits, skills, training and education needed to get started on your path as a successful educator. | Education & Training | 9-12 |
 | Water and Environmental Technology | 4/4/2025 | Water and environmental technology is an in-demand field that encompasses the support of maintaining safe and functional water and environmental systems for communities. Jobs can include water treatment engineer or analyst, environmental scientist, soil analyst, and renewable energy consultant, just to name a few. This program is co-hosted by Thaddeus Steven College who will provide an overview of their Water & Environmental Technology program and York Water Company, who will take students on-location to observe some of their systems that have allowed them to faithfully provide York’s water since 1816. | Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics | 9-12 |
 | Artistic Careers | 4/8/2025 | Artistic careers involve the expression of creativity and imagination through various forms such as visual arts, music, performing arts, literature and more. These careers can include fields such as education, therapy and, of course, entertainment and cultural advancement. This session hosted by Creative York will allow students to obtain a better understanding of artistic careers specifically in visual arts as they convey their mission of inspiring the community through arts education, gallery experiences, and outreach programs." | Arts, A/V Technology & Communications | 9-12 |
 | Early Childhood Education | 4/15/2025 | Early childhood education is a rewarding career path focused on the care and education of young children, typically from birth to age 8. This is a high demand field with flexibility, job security, creativity, and job growth. Hosted by Community Connections for Children’s ECHO initiative (Every Child Has Opportunities), students will learn more about the skills, traits, training and education needed to be successful in this field. This program will also highlight the educational opportunities and assistance available for individual looking to enter this field. | Education & Training | 9-12 |
 | Information Technology | 4/25/2025 | Information technology covers a vast array of services from programming to building websites and apps to securing sensitive data through cyber security and ensuring smooth computer operations. It is a growing field with high demand, many opportunities, competitive salaries, and constant innovation. Hosted by Penn State York, this session will cover the type of careers within this field as well as the skills and training needed to enter the career path. | Information Technology | 9-12 |
| Psychology/Human Services | 4/25/2025 | Psychology, Human Development, and Family Studies offer career opportunities for those who have a passionate for wanting to understand human behavior and helping others. These careers are in high demand and can have a huge impact on the lives of those that you serve. Hosted by Penn State York, this session will cover the different fields of study, types of careers available, and the education, training, and certifications needed to enter this career path. | Human Services | 9-12 |
 | Children's Therapy | 4/29/2025 | Children’s Therapy is a specialized field that helps children and adolescents overcome emotional, behavioral, and mental health challenges. As a child therapist, you'll work with young people to understand their feelings, develop coping skills, and improve their overall well-being. This session hosted by Leg Up Farm will cover a variety of fields such as Mental Health, Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapies in a hands-on setting. | Health Science | 9-12 |
 | Automotive Technology | 5/2/2025 | Automotive technicians are dedicated to the service and maintenance of vehicles that keep the world moving. Without their work in keeping our vehicles working safely, we wouldn’t get to school, work, and play! Hosted by York County School of Technology’s Adult and Continuing Education Center, this program will allow students to gain a better understanding of the career path and the required training to be successful. | Transportation, Distribution & Logistics | 9-12 |
| CDL (Commercial Driving) | 5/2/2025 | A Commercial Driver's License (CDL) is a special type of driver's license that allows you to operate large commercial vehicles, such as: semi-trucks, buses and delivery trucks. This field offers degrees of flexibility (and the potential to travel across the country!), decent pay, and is in very high demand. Hosted by York County School of Technology’s Adult and Continuing Education Center, this program will allow students to gain a better understanding of the career path and the required training to be successful. | Transportation, Distribution & Logistics | 9-12 |
| Cosmetology | 5/2/2025 | Cosmetologists provide a range of services, including Hair Styling, Makeup Application, Skin Care and Nail Care. This field often requires creativity and people skills, offering flexibility and earning potential. Hosted by York County School of Technology’s Adult and Continuing Education Center, this program will allow students to gain a better understanding of the career path and the required training to be successful. | Human Services | 9-12 |
| Mechatronics | 5/2/2025 | Mechatronics combines principles of mechanical engineering, electronics, computer science, and control engineering to design, develop, and maintain automated systems. Mechatronics engineers can be found working in fields that handle manufacturing, robotics, and automation processes. This career offers high demand, global impact, innovative work and opportunities for advancement. Hosted by York County School of Technology’s Adult and Continuing Education Center, this program will allow students to gain a better understanding of the career path and the required training to be successful. | Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics; Manufacturing | 9-12 |
| Medical Assistant | 5/2/2025 | A medical assistant plays a crucial role in the healthcare field, supporting doctors and nurses in various medical settings. They perform a wide range of administrative and clinical duties including scheduling appointments, managing medical records and insurance claims, greeting patients and answering phones, taking vital signs, preparing patients for examinations and assisting in medical procedures. Hosted by York County School of Technology’s Adult and Continuing Education Center, this program will allow students to gain a better understanding of the career path and the required training to be successful. | Health Science | 9-12 |
| Welding | 5/2/2025 | Welding is a skilled trade that involves joining metals together using heat, pressure, or both. It's a career that offers a great mix of physical and mental challenges, and it's essential to many industries, from construction and manufacturing to automotive and aerospace. This career offers high demand, good pay, hands-on work and opportunities for advancement. Hosted by York County School of Technology’s Adult and Continuing Education Center, this program will allow students to gain a better understanding of the career path and the required training to be successful. | Architecture & Construction | 9-12 |
Virtual Career Exploration Programs
Throughout 2020-2021, YCAL offered over 25 Virtual Career Exploration Programs that were made available for students to attend live and interactively, or to view on-demand at a later date. This library of content has been moved to YCAL’s YouTube page as of Summer of 2023. A full playlist of the 26 available programs can be found by CLICKING HERE.