Middle Schools Career Exploration Guidance: Summer Rising 2026
Middle Schools (Grades 6-8): Career Exposure and Exploration
Exploring Futures is a set of programs that offer career exploration and early exposure to career opportunities for middle school students. Middle school sites are required to implement 12 hours of career exploration during Summer Rising programming. Sites can utilize the curriculum and implementation guide below to meet the twelve-hour requirement.
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CBO Team Lead
(Each lesson plan requires 60 mins to complete)
Week 1
(July 1st-2nd)
Session 1: Intro to Exploring Futures
Session 2: Exploring Futures Board Game
Week 2
(July 6-10)
Session 3: H&L What is Work?
Session 4:H&L Which Me Am I?
Week 3
(July 13-17)
Session 5: H&L Own Your Story
Session 6: H&L From Hello to Hired
Week 4
(July 20- 24)
Session 7: H&L Financial Literacy 101
Session 8: H&L Time Management 101
Week 5
(July 27- 31)
Session 9: Pre-Field Trip Career Exploration
Session 10: Exposure Event: Community Walk, Career Panel, or Field Trip
Week 6
(August 3-7)
Session 11: Post-Field Trip Career Exploration
Session 12: My Next Steps – Building my Vision Board
Bonus Lessons: Explore Hats and NYC Works Career Quest
Implementation Guidance
Dates for the career exploration sessions are suggested; CBOs can flexibly create schedules based on what works best for their program schedule to meet the 12 hour requirement.
Click here for additional resources on supporting multilingual learners and students with disabilities.
Hats & Ladders Guidance
✨Log into Hats and Ladders to preview the interactive app and access 15 + hours of bonus lessons and activities. Get started here, or reach out to the Hats and Ladders Help Desk for support.
Bonus Lessons: Explore Hats and NYC Works Career Quest
Co-Planning Exposure Events
Summer Rising programs located at NYCPS sites are encouraged to collaborate with their Principal in Charge (PIC) to coordinate trips. We also recommend that CBOs work with their PIC to plan trips that may take place in the morning and/or for the full day.
If you have any questions about the Exploring Futures resources, please reach out to Alex Fendrich, MS Career Exploration Program Director at [email protected]
Exploring Futures Summer Professional Development Schedule
PD Session
DYCD Pathways to Possibility: Exploring Futures Summer Kickoff
Content
Learn about new summer activities, curriculum, guidance, and supports for implementing career exploration with your middle school youth.
Audience
Site Directors, Program Directors, ED Specialists, Site Coordinators
Dates
Thursday, May 28th, 11AM – 12 PM Register
DYCD Exploring Futures in Action: Unlocking Career-Connected Opportunities for Youth (External Partners)
Learn about Exploring Futures partnership opportunities including Apple, CUNY Explorers, Learn Fresh/NY Liberty, & City Parks.
Site Directors, ED Specialists, Site Coordinators
Tuesday, June 9th, 10AM – 11:30 AM Register
Hats & Ladders: From Curriculum to Practice
Learn about new updates to the Hats & Ladders curriculum and best practices for implementing the program with your middle school youth.
Site Directors, Ed Specialists, Activity Specialists, Group Leaders
ExpandED: Exploring Futures Summer Curriculum Training
Learn how to implement our paper based curriculum and best practices for engaging your middle school youth in career exploration activities.
Targeted for Group Leaders & Activity Specialists, but supervisors welcome to attend.
ExpandED: Exploring Futures Summer Exposure Events Training (AM Session)
Learn how to plan and implement community walks, career panels, and career-connected field trips with your middle school participants.
Targeted for Group Leaders & Activity Specialists, but supervisors welcome to attend.