Empowering educators and their students 

From June 24-28, The Fargo Moorhead West Fargo Chamber and Cass County Career and Technical Education Center hosted EDventures, a program created to strengthen the connection between education and industry. This year’s event featured thirty local businesses and brought together education professionals from various backgrounds to explore new ways to prepare students for their future careers.  

Kick-Off Session: Setting the Stage 
The event began Monday morning with a Kick-Off Session at The Chamber, providing the goals and schedule for the week. The focus was on the five essential skills necessary for students in the workforce: responsibility, technical skills, communication, problem solving and teamwork. These soft skills are critical for success in any industry.  Educators already integrate these skills into the classroom, but understanding how they are applied in different businesses can significantly enhance a student’s career readiness.  

Industry Insights: Hands-On Learning for Education Professionals 
Throughout the week, education professionals visited up to twelve participating businesses. They toured work environments, engaged with employers and gained firsthand insights into the daily operations. This exposure allowed participants to ask questions and learn about specific educational requirements and skills needed for different jobs. Attendees also participated in interactive activities such as testing equipment at the Fargo Fire Department and going behind the scenes of a live studio broadcast at Midwest Communications.  

StartupBrew: Knowledge is Powerful 
Wednesday morning’s session was held in collaboration with StartupBREW and carried the theme “Knowledge is Powerful.” StartupBREW is a weekly event hosted by Emerging Prairie that is tailored towards entrepreneurs and has a mission to learn, support and inspire community members. The session featured speakers from EKNOX Corporation and ILT Academy, both education-based startup companies. Glen Stevens, also known as The Mental Fitness Guy, also joined the conversation to present a dynamic talk meant to boost mental agility, stress management and overall mental wellness for educators.  

The Educators Lab: Putting it all Together 
A notable addition to this year’s EDventures was the Educators Lab, led by Darcy Bakkegard, an expert in education and professional development. This wrap-up session was held on the event's final day and designed to be practical and inspirational. It provided education professionals with four hours to connect the dots from the week and, for those enrolled, complete their continuing education credits through North Dakota State University. Bakkegard skillfully tied together the various elements of the week’s events, helping education professionals translate the knowledge and experiences gained into actionable classroom practices. Participants left with a clear understanding of how to integrate the five essential skills into their teaching methods, thereby enhancing the educational experience for their students.  

The Impact of EDventures 
As the landscape of education and work continues to evolve, initiatives like EDventures play a crucial role in ensuring that educators are well-equipped to prepare their students for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. By providing hands-on experiences, focusing on essential skills and fostering valuable connections, the program has laid a strong foundation for enhancing educational practices and workforce readiness. The knowledge and strategies gained from this event are expected to have a lasting impact on participants, their students and the broader educational community.  

 
Participating Businesses
119th Wing, North Dakota Air National Guard  
141st MEB, North Dakota Army National Guard 
Bayer Crop Science 
Bobcat Company 
Border States 
Bushel 
Butler Machinery 
Carr’s Tree Service 
Cass County Government 
Cass County Sheriff’s Department 
Digital Plains 
Eide Bailly LLP 
Fargo Fire Department 
Fargo Jet Center 
Farm in the Dell 
Grand Farm 
Hector International Airport 
Marsh McLennan Agency 
Marvin 
​Microsoft 
Midwest Communications 
Milk Made 
Moore Engineering 
Office Sign Company 
Packet Digital 
Revel Digital 
Sanford ASPIRE K12 
TNT Kid’s Fitness & Gymnastics 
Unifi Aviation 
West Acres