Futures Students Get A Head-Start with Rockwell Develop. Group

CHESTER COUNTY FUTURES

Local Business Gives Back to Students in a Constructive Way
Rockwell Development Group hosted big days of experiential learning for motivated Chester County Futures middle school students
Exton, November 15, 2017: Chester County Futures middle school program, Futures AHEAD, held its second of two Enrichment Camps for motivated, middle school students on Friday, November 17 at Parkview at Chesterbrook. Rockwell Development Group, developers of the custom home community, volunteered their time and resources to provide an exciting day of experiential learning.
Fifty eager and excited middle school students from throughout Chester County spent the day meeting professionals in various roles relating to design, construction, development, and energy efficiency in regards to home-building. They were engaged with career presenters and attended interactive workshops. All activities were designed to provide students with the resources and inspiration they needed to successfully complete a project by the end of the day. Students used design thinking to brainstorm a "buildable solution" that could be realistically conceived, constructed, marketed and sold. The intrigued group of students worked with a variety of local business people, interviewing, observing and gaining knowledge to develop a solution and design a home suitable for a customer profile. They then presented their scale models to a panel of experts and peers.

Through this program students learned about architectural design and homebuilding. They were introduced to basic engineering specifics within building construction and learned to understand the importance of empathy in the form of customer service. Students were highly engaged while using math and engineering concepts. They had questions about careers in design, homebuilding, construction, finance, and sales. The experts shared stories of their post-secondary paths relating to careers, which contributed to the value of the day and event itself.
The Enrichment Camp was sponsored by Rockwell Development Group who created the experiences Chester County Futures looks for when providing opportunities to explore and be educated on potential career paths to their students. "Rockwell and friends exposed our middle school students to the wide array of career options within the real estate development and construction industries. Students learned about civil engineering, interior design, construction and marketing. There was something of interest for everyone! The Rockwell volunteers moved through the day with enthusiasm and consideration for our students. Our students left feeling valued, and that is as important and as empowering as the curriculum learning that took place." says Marjorie Dawkins, Director of Student Programs as seventh grader Zach from Phoenixville shared, "This is a learning experience!" , reminding her of the value the students themselves give to the opportunities created and supported by Chester County Futures.
About Chester County Futures Chester County Futures (Futures) is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization providing academic, mentoring and scholarship support for motivated, economically disadvantaged Chester County students in middle through post-secondary school. Futures AHEAD provides early intervention to low-income students to set them on the path toward higher education. This is done through enrichment camps held throughout the year at local corporate or educational sites. Enrichment camps provide academic enrichment, life skills development, improve access to technology, an introduction to post-secondary school and career options, and relevant activities that uniquely engage 7th and 8th grade students. For more information, please visit www.ccfutures.org or call 610.458.2003.