Parkland College’s Cobra Pathfinder is the school’s newest toy — and this is one toy that can make a difference in the career paths of area youth.
The Pathfinder is a custom-built, 36-foot-long fifth wheel trailer that features six interactive stations of various topics, ranging from welding, to automotive care to surgical technology and more. Each station, or cart, is on wheels and can be switched out for a cart of a different topic.
The Pathfinder will travel to middle schools and high schools in the college’s District 505 region, which includes parts of 12 counties.
“It’s meant to open a conversation,” said Cindy Smith, Parkland’s director of career and community engagement. “What are the careers available? It’s meant to give them something fun to do and engage them.”
Each station allows the user to explore career opportunities within a given topic, and do so interactively.
Middle and high schools in District 505 can schedule a visit from the Pathfinder while requesting which particular carts it would like to see included for its visit. The carts that aren’t in use in the Pathfinder are kept in Parkland’s Career Exploration Room.
“The goal was to build it with as much flexibility as possible,” Smith said.
The Pathfinder is ADA compliant. Funding was provided by grants from the Illinois Community College Board.
For more info, visit Parkland’s website.