Abstract
Rural youth often encounter persistent barriers in career and workforce readiness, including limited access to career exploration resources, mentorship, and post-secondary exposure, challenges that are compounded by geographic isolation and higher rates of rural poverty. To address these gaps, this manuscript describes the development and implementation of Launch Skills, a virtual career camp designed to broaden rural youths’ awareness of career pathways within food, agriculture, natural resources management, and human sciences (FANH). Grounded in Positive Youth Development principles, Launch Skills was collaboratively developed by North Dakota State University Extension and South Dakota State University Extension to provide flexible, accessible, and developmentally appropriate career exploration experiences for rural students. Qualitative data were gathered from 77 ninth-grade students across seven rural schools using open-ended reflections and feedback surveys to examine students’ perceptions of career awareness, relevance, and engagement. Findings suggest that participation in Launch Skills increased students’ awareness of diverse FANH careers and supported more informed perceptions of job responsibilities and earning potential associated with these pathways. Students identified exposure to novel information, opportunities for active engagement, and video-based content as particularly valuable components of the program. These findings position Launch Skills as both a practical tool for educators seeking to enhance rural career readiness and a scalable model for virtual outreach programming that can reduce structural barriers and support equitable workforce development in rural communities.
Recommended Citation
Homan, Caroline and Hoffman, Meagan
(2026)
"Launch Skills: Virtual Career Camp Connects Rural Youth to Diverse Career Pathways,"
Journal of Youth Development: Vol. 21:
Iss.
1, Article 15.
Available at:
https://open.clemson.edu/jyd/vol21/iss1/15
Included in
Child Psychology Commons, Civic and Community Engagement Commons, Community-Based Learning Commons, Developmental Psychology Commons, Leadership Studies Commons
