All 6th at Bucyrus City Schools graders recently took part in Take a Child to Work Day, as a new annual career exploration experience that introduced students to the world of work through visits with local employers.
During the event, students visited FC Bank, Crossroads Candles, Center Street Meat Company and Trustwell Assisted Living Facility all in Bucyrus. At each location, students learned about careers available within the company, heard about the training, wages, and benefits connected to those jobs, and participated in a hands-on activity that reflected a real task an employee might perform there.
The experience was designed to help students to begin thinking about their futures in practical, meaningful ways and to guide them toward a future in which they can participate fully in work, family, and community.
The local event was created by the Crawford County Chamber of Commerce in partnership with Bucyrus City Schools, with support from Junior Achievement. It also reflected the work of Bucyrus City Schools’ Career Readiness Council, where industry partner champions help co-create career-connected learning activities for students.
“Take a Child to Work Day reflects our district’s vision, True North: Navigating Students to Career Success,” said Bucyrus City Schools Superintendent Bob Britton. “Experiences like this help our students connect what they are learning in school to real opportunities in their community and begin to see themselves in future careers.”
Becky Lutz, Executive Director of the Crawford County Chamber of Commerce, said the day gave students a valuable opportunity to experience the workplace in an authentic way. “When students step into real workplaces, meet professionals, and participate in hands-on activities, career exploration becomes much more real,” Lutz said. “That kind of exposure is powerful because it helps students begin imagining what may be possible for their own future.”
The event also connected Bucyrus students to a national initiative with a long history. What began in 1993 as Take Your Daughter to Work Day, later became Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day. In 2024, Junior Achievement completed its acquisition of the initiative and rebranded it as Take a Child to Work Day and Beyond, reflecting the belief that every child should have the opportunity to participate and that career exploration should extend beyond a single day. That effort carried the theme “The Future is at Work,” a message focused on helping young people explore careers, ask questions, and build the confidence and curiosity needed to navigate a changing world.
Amy Wood, director of leadership and district partnerships for Bucyrus City Schools, said the event was part of a larger effort to make career learning intentional and ongoing across grade levels. “This experience was one of many career-connected learning opportunities we are building with our workforce and community partners,” Wood said. “We want students to understand early that there are many pathways available to them and that meaningful futures begin to take shape through experiences like this.”
Josh Lehman of Junior Achievement said the event aligned closely with the organization’s mission to help young people connect school to life beyond the classroom. “When students have the chance to explore careers and interact with employers, they begin to understand that the future is something they can actively prepare for,” Lehman said. “That awareness builds confidence, curiosity, and a stronger sense of possibility.”
District leaders said Take a Child to Work Day will now become a yearly event for all Bucyrus 6th graders as part of the district’s continued investment in career-connected learning.