Where Learning Comes to Life: CTE in Action
At Dodge Nature Center in West St. Paul, learning looks a little different.
Students are outside—working with animals and getting their hands dirty. It’s here that Career and Technical Education (CTE) comes to life for Two Rivers seniors, including Lorenzo Blanco and Mackenzie Woods, as they connect their classroom learning to real-world experiences.
Through the new TriDistrict CAPS Natural Resources, Sustainability, and Food Systems course, students step into an immersive environment where science, sustainability, and agriculture intersect.
Bringing Curiosity Back into Learning
Instead of traditional classroom routines, students spend their time at Dodge harvesting crops, working in gardens, and learning how natural ecosystems function.
“It brings curiosity back into learning,” shared instructor Jesse Rock. “When students are outside and engaged, they ask more questions and make deeper connections.”
Real-World Experience
In the second semester, students extend their learning through internships and service projects with local partners. Partnerships with organizations such as Great River Greening and Freshwater Society help connect students to meaningful work in their communities.
This kind of learning is already helping students connect their interests to future career paths.
Mackenzie, a Two Rivers senior who plans to study environmental science at Luther College, is developing skills that align with her interests through her CAPS internship with Great River Greening.
Lorenzo, a Two Rivers senior, first discovered his love for working outdoors and with animals through his time at Dodge Nature Center as an elementary student at Garlough Environmental Magnet School. He continued his journey at Heritage STEM Magnet School and is now coming full circle with a senior-year internship back at Dodge through the new CAPS course. He hopes to be a veterinarian.
“I always liked working outside, and with the experience I already had in elementary school, I knew it would be the right fit,” Lorenzo shared. “I want to be a vet when I’m older, so having a chance to work outside and with animals, but also just nature in general, I thought it would be a good opportunity to get some more knowledge and experience.”
Want to learn more about the TriDistrict CAPS program? Click here to learn more.
